Former defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has largely shied away from the spotlight since leaving office last December, took aim at President trump in a speech at the 74th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in new York on Thursday night. Dinner guests usually fire up politicians, but the mocking tone was a departure for Mattis, who has generally refused to criticize the President’s foreign policy actions since leaving office.

At another point, Mattis reacted to reports that Mr. trump called him “the most overrated General” during a meeting with Democrats earlier this week. Mattis joked that he felt he had “achieved greatness” because he was “not just an overrated General, I’m the greatest, most overrated in the world.”

“I’m honored to consider this Donald trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress,” he continued. “So I think I’m Meryl Streep generals. Frankly, it sounds very good to me.”

After publishing his book “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead” in August, Mattis was criticized by some for not doing more to denounce Mr. trump in the book or in subsequent media appearances to promote him. In an interview with NPR in September, Mattis said, ” I don’t discuss incumbent presidents.”

Mattis sidestepped direct criticism of Mr. trump’s policy decisions during the dinner, including the withdrawal of troops in Northern Syria, which Turkey regarded as an opening to launch an offensive against the Kurds. Mattis resigned in December because Mr. trump advocated a complete withdrawal of American troops from Syria.

After a humorous dig at Mr. trump, Mattis turned to talking about Abraham Lincoln and the political conditions that led to the civil war, including Hyper-partisanship.

Mattis noted that Lincoln believes great Nations can fall because of “corrosion from within – rot, depravity, lassitude, ignorance.”

“Anarchy is one of the possible consequences of all this. The other is the rise of an ambitious leader, unlimited in conscience, precedent or decency, who would be himself Supreme, ” Mattis said.

Mattis also mentioned the Kurds in Syria, who have been key allies in the fight against the terrorist group ISIS. Vice President Mike Pence announced a cease-fire between Turkey and the Kurds on Thursday, which will involve Kurds fully decamping from Northern Syria.

“We are indebted to all who fought for freedom, including those who serve in far corners of our planet today, among them American men and women who support our Kurdish allies,” Mattis said.