If the new Bob Woodward book sucking up much of the oxygen in Washington, D.C., is true, Defense Secretary James Mattis apparently said to former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, “I’ve killed people for a living. If you call me again [to have him go on talk shows on behalf of the administration], I’m going to f***ing send you to Afghanistan. Are we clear?”

Mattis has denied the claims and the quotes attributed to him in the Woodward book — calling it “fiction” — and put out a statement to the effect.

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President Donald Trump thanked Mattis for his statement about the book in a tweet, calling the Woodward publication “boring” and “untrue.”

The defense secretary is the 26th secretary of defense and a former United States Marine Corps general, according to his biography.

He served as the 11th commander of the United States Central Command during Barack Obama’s presidency.

President Donald Trump tapped him for his current position, and on Jan. 20, 2017, Mattis was confirmed by the Senate.

Mattis is 67 years old and was born in Pullman, Washington. He first enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1969 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1972.

Check out some of the other quotes attributed to Mattis over the years.

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1.) “I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.”

2.) “The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some a**holes in the world that just need to be shot.”

3.) “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f*** with me, I’ll kill you all.”

4.) “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”

5.) “The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.”

6.) “You are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.”

7.) “There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.”

Related: Mattis Reportedly Told Sean Spicer, ‘I’ve Killed People for a Living,’ and More

8.) “There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. It’s really great.”

9.) “You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it’s going to be bad.”

10.) “Demonstrate to the world there is ‘No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy’ than a U.S. Marine.”

11.) “No war is over until the enemy says it’s over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote.”

12.) “I’m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.”

13.) “Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit.”

14.) “If in order to kill the enemy you have to kill an innocent, don’t take the shot. Don’t take out more enemies than you create by some immoral shot.”

15.) “Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they’re so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.”

Sources: Business Insider; San Diego Union Tribute; Defense News; letter from Mattis to the 1st Marine Division.

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