James Mattis, the blunt-spoken retired Marine Corps general who headed the U.S. military command covering the Middle East and Afghanistan, emerged on Sunday as a top candidate for defense secretary, with President-elect Donald Trump calling him "very impressive", Reuters reported.
Trump, who was holding a series of meetings at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey with candidates for posts in his incoming administration, met on Saturday with Mattis and Mitt Romney, previously a Trump critic who now is under consideration for secretary of state.
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who launched his own unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination, will meet with Trump on Monday and is being considered for Cabinet posts including defense, energy and veterans affairs positions, a source familiar with the meeting said.
Trump told reporters he would likely have some announcements on top administration positions on Sunday but did not say which ones.
Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday that "General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis, who is being considered for Secretary of Defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General's General!"