You may remember that after the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis, days later news broke that the top U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting ISIS resigned too. McGurk’s decision was apparently spurred on by President Donald Trump‘s Syria announcement as well, but Trump downplayed his departure:

Brett McGurk, who I do not know, was appointed by President Obama in 2015. Was supposed to leave in February but he just resigned prior to leaving. Grandstander? The Fake News is making such a big deal about this nothing event!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018

McGurk has not made much public comment since the news broke, but in his first tweet since then, he reveals today was his last day and alludes to “extremely difficult circumstances” people are working under:

Today was my last day at the State Department. I wish my former civilian and military colleagues well as they work under extremely difficult circumstances to protect the interests of our great country. It was a privilege to serve alongside them.

— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) December 31, 2018

[image via screengrab]