Summary

Trump chafed against renewing the deal that Obama had made with Iran, though Iran was in compliance with the deal. When Mattis, who knew how to handle Trump, intervened, Trump agreed to renew the deal for one last time (it had to be renewed every 90 days), but he then criticized it to the press. When the deal was up for renewal again, Trump argued that the Iranians were in violation, and Tillerson, who disagreed, had to remind the president that it was up to him (Trump) to decide what to do. Mattis and Tillerson were working closely together, leaving McMaster out. Tillerson also disagreed with the White House over personnel appointments, and Mattis flatly refused to go on the Sunday talk shows to support the administration. Trump signed a recertification for the Iran deal after all.

In Chapter 17, Woodward details Trump's fight against...