Generals fake fighting with the President seems like Kabuki theater designed to blunt future criticism of the military.

https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/804633566793572352

I haven’t believed any of it yet.

“That President Trump is just awful or something, something, the Constitution!”

“Oh, that general, he's the worst! Why I bet he doesn’t even sweep the grass clippings from his sidewalk after mowing the lawn! Horrible man, something, something, overrated.”

It’s weak vaudeville, but probably for a future public perception purpose.

“But, but, but Mattis had a black eye!”