The secretaries of defense and state both advised against moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem

President Trump failed to heed advice from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis when deciding to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, The Hill reports.

Mattis and Tillerson told Trump that the move would endanger American troops and diplomats, The Associated Press reported. But Trump forged on, and the plan to move the embassy — announced Wednesday — has already sparked outrage in the region that may result in protests. Tillerson released a statement after Trump's Wednesday announcement that said the State Department had “implemented robust security plans to protect the safety of Americans in affected regions."

Mattis and Tillerson avoided questions from reporters after the president's announcement, though The Hill reports both told the press that they had spoken with the president about the move and made their opinions known. Neither confirmed or denied opposition to the action.

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