Trump ripped by Armed Forces Dem for picking Boeing exec to replace Mattis: 'We have a major problem with Boeing'

Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) -- a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee -- was not pleased to hear that President Donald Trump has forced out Defense Secretary James Mattis early, only to replace him with a 30-year veteran of Boeing which has major contracts with the U.S. government.

Trump announced on Sunday morning that he was appointing Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan as acting secretary of defense as of Jan. 1, pushing Mattis out early.

According to Garamendi, who is a big booster of Mattis as "the only adult in the room" keeping Trump from starting a war, said that he finds Shanahan's appointment problematic due to issues with Boeing's production of equipment for the Pentagon.

Speaking with MSNBC's Alex Witt, Garamendi questioned the incoming defense chief's priorities.

"The bottom line here is, who is going to be the adult in the room?" Garamendi demanded. "Who is going to be carrying the burden of the Department of Defense and our enormous and extremely important military?"

Turning to Shanahan, he brought up Boeing's problems delivering an aerial tanker that was due months ago and has been delayed due to serious technical issues.

"The new gentleman announced as acting comes from Boeing," Garamendi stated. "We have a major problem with Boeing on the production of the KC-46, the new aerial tanker. How does that fit in? That is a big question and one that I want to ask."

Watch the clip below via MSNBC: