Defense Secretary James Mattis comes through Richland to get a spudnut | Tri-City Herald

Even the U.S. secretary of defense craves a spudnut now and then.

James Mattis, who leads the Department of Defense in President Trump’s administration, came back to the Tri-Cities during the Thanksgiving holiday to see family.

While at home, the former Marine general decided to slip into the Spudnut Shop in Richland.

“He’s been in a few times before,” said owner/operator Val Driver, whose dad opened the shop in 1948. “He comes around during the holidays.”

Kevin Russell, Spudnuts’ longest-tenured employee, asked for — and got — a photo with Mattis. Another employee got one too.

Driver wasn’t there at the time, but employees told her that Mattis, who grew up in Richland, said, “Jeez, I just came in for a spudnut!”

“He was laughing,” Driver said, adding the experience never gets old.

“It’s kinda weird to see the security guys out there in the parking lot,” she said. “Kinda cool though.”

It’s unclear if Mattis will pop in again for the doughnut-like treat if he swings in to town for the Christmas break.