he did this because of duty and that is what we do as military people. >> right. i thought the most stunning admission in that interview was him describing his role as preventing the president from doing things. the chief of staff in any administration is supposed to be there to execute a president's vision, execute their agenda. in this case in his first public sitdown since leaving office, since leaving this position, he's saying look at all that i did to stop this president from doing what he was trying to do. that's his top official inside the west wing. >> again, the new incoming acting chief of staff very opposite. we've heard a lot from him so far. our panel is going to stick around. coming up for you, russian president vladimir putin sending a holiday note to president trump. details of how putin put a bow on a turbulent year for u.s./russian relations after the break. /russian relations after e break.