Trump picks military strategist as national security adviser
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump shook hands with Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate today.
PALM BEACH, Fla. >> President Donald Trump has tapped Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as his new national security adviser, replacing the ousted Michael Flynn.
Trump announced the pick today at his Palm Beach club and said McMaster is “a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience.”
Trump says retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg who had been his acting adviser, will now serve as the National Security Council chief of staff. He also said he would be asking John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to work with them in a “somewhat different capacity.”
Trump made the announcement from a luxurious living room, sitting on a couch between McMaster and Kellogg. He has been looking for a replacement for retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who was ousted last week.
Trump brought four options for the position to Mar-a-Lago over the weekend for in person interviews, McMaster among them. McMaster called the appointment a “privilege.”
The president told reporters as he exited the room that Vice President Mike Pence had been involved in the process.
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The position of national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation.
Trump pushed out Flynn a week ago after revelations that the adviser had misled Pence about discussing sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential transition. Trump said in a news conference Thursday that he was disappointed by how Flynn had treated Pence, but did not believe Flynn had done anything wrong by having the conversations.
Trump’s first choice to replace Flynn, retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, turned down the offer.
70 responses to “Trump picks military strategist as national security adviser”
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Oh, now we’re going active duty.
Trump is surrounding himself with actual brave people to erase the stain of his cowardice.
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Great! Our utility bills will go up and gasoline will get back closer to $5/gal. Good work, clown prince!
Take the bus and turn off your A/C. Poor soul
Trump.. a coward ?
Please elaborate.
consider the source. Lying loser Lawyer.
avoided military service by claiming he had a boo-boo on his foot (but he can’t remember which foot). His self-proclaimed “personal Vietnam” was avoiding STDs
Too chicken to release his tax returns which he had promised. Makes him a coward and a liar in my book.
Klastri is what he accuses Trump of being. Klastri is a manic psychotic who is on a rabid mission to instantly react to every Trump headline to find a way to criticize and put down everything Trump does.
Sorry sarge, when it comes to lying and sources, no one can compare with the Donald. The biggest liar of all time. and just makes things up like Sweeden. What is his problem? Oh, that is right he is suffereing from long term STD exposure. All he needs to do is release his medical records but he won’t as they would show he is suffering from dimentia.
nomu, everyone should be on a mission to question the Donald for whatever reason. No one has lied as much as this clown. He needs to be kept in check. Thank you Klastri.
Chicken, coward, and liar? Geez, lots of drama there, an emotional issue with you. It seems to be me that Trump made a calculated decision to not release his returns because he used aggressive accounting techniques to reduce his tax liability. It would make some people’s head explode that he would dare to pay less taxes.
Crickets all chirping. Nothing new. Take the loss and show some respect. It’s over and we have eight great years ahead.
Marauders_1959 – He fabricated a medical condition (that he subsequently could not remember) to dodge the draft. He received five medical deferments, despite calling himself a “spectacular athlete.” The medical problem he made up was heel spurs. He remembered after a reporter reminded him what his medical problem was.
A loathsome coward.
nomu – I welcome your hate. Your comments are completely worthless. Totally worthless.
Klastri, considering your hatred of pointless wars, why would you question acts to avoid being drafted into fighting one? Could it be symptoms of your psychosis?
nomu – Like I said, your comments are worthless.
I believe in the rule of law, and I served. Trump ran away. He can never erase the stain of cowardice. Never.
Another sign of psychotic behavior is responding with consideration to comments one openly deems worthless.
klastri: I assume your comment about President trump being a loathsome coward for missing military service would also apply to President Clinton, who relied upon political connections to miss the draft. Would it also apply to Vice President Biden, who’s claims of asthma (even though he participated in college sports) kept him out of the draft?
DPK – Yes.
Anything else?
I was wondering how anyone could come up with a negative comment…Klastri, you never disappoint. You shouldn’t be so angry. It’s bad for your health.
new guy won’t last any longer than his predecessor. he has a habit of criticizing past presidents on prior wars. the minute he uses his “tremendous talent and tremendous experience” to redirect DonTheCon on military strategy & tactics, he’ll be tossed out onto his keister.
McMaster came to prominence with book, “Dereliction of Duty,” which critiqued Joint Chiefs for not standing up to LBJ during Vietnam war. (He is an active-duty General with a phD in American History)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5IlZdZXUAEW2zz.jpg
In defense of klastri, he is just reporting the facts and giving his views. We all appreciate that in here.
@ allie
NO hon…please don’t EVER say “WE”….say YOU…got it?
I don’t agree with narcissistic nuts.
Agree allie, but the name calling part, especially derogatory comments, simply aren’t necessary. You and I may disagree on UH football, for example, but you’ve always been respectful in your comments.
IRT Keonigohan: I’m just trying to change the tone. Maybe, just maybe Allie will re-think her post about Klastri.
cajaybird – Keep trying. Good luck.
No need to change the tone. Kick a$$ and take names. These cry babies have to grow up and accept a bitter defeat. klastri is a basket case. The white coats will soon be taking him away.
@ cajaybird
I am always nice cordial….just ask the psychotic loser KKKlastri.
Besides being a perpetual whiner, klastri now appears to be a mind reader. As a supposed lawyer, klastri should know that the label of cowardice requires knowledge of Trump’s intent. Remember “intent” in law school klastri?
You’re wrong, of course. Why do you keep commenting on things you obviously know absolutely nothing about? Conviction at trial requires providing evidence of intent, unless the stature doesn’t require that.
Cowardice stands all by itself. Trump’s a coward. Period.
So why do you assume what Trump’s intent was? Your accusation of cowardice and draft dodger require a knowledge of intent or honesty with which a draft registrant seeks to avoid service.
OUTSTANDING PICK!
H.R. McMaster is a HERO – – unafraid to speak truth to power:
Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam is a book written by then Major H.R. McMaster, that explores the military’s role in the policies of the Vietnam War. The book was written as part of McMaster’s Ph.D. thesis at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The book examines Robert McNamara and U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s staff, alongside the military and particularly the Joint Chiefs of Staff, failure to provide a successful plan of action to pacify either a Viet Cong insurgency or decisively defeat the North Vietnamese Army.
McMaster details why military actions intended to indicate “resolve” or to “communicate” ultimately failed when trying to accomplish sparsely detailed, confusing, and conflicting military objectives. In his opinion, the military is to be used appropriately in order to meet objective military targets and goals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dereliction_of_Duty_(1997_book)
Second good pick by Putin’s puppet, the other being James Mattis. McMasters will have his hands full running the national security council with nutcase Steve Bannon trying to politicize military policy. I wonder who the clown prince of the free world is going to listen to, Bannon or McMasters? Hopefully, the orange one will get his security briefings from McMasters instead of the chief propagandist. I would also be reassuring to know that the president of minority of voters is getting his info from an expert and not Fox News. Maybe we can avoid too many repeats about terrorist incidents in Sweden.
Unlike his predecessor, who despised the US Armed Forces and Police, Trump embraces them, recognizing their value in keeping America safe.
@ Marauders_1959
Agree!
America is starting to feel like the America I knew prior to Jan.09
IRT Marauders: Well said, so true.
Hooray, we are on the verge of a police state! Send out the National Guard to round up immigrants! Everyone will be forced to produce identification papers and a signed loyalty to Trump oath on demand. Democrats will be forced to wear a yellow donkey on their shirt pockets so they can be harassed. All hail the reality show president!
That should be easy with a yellow donkey on the front and a big yellow stripe on the back.
The role of the National Security Advisor is to be a policy agnostic who facilitates and coordinates among the State Department, the Department of Defense and the intelligence agencies. Trump is overly impressed by retired generals. Let’s hope that a condition of McMaster’s acceptance of the job was getting Bannon as far as possible from the NSC; Trump, reportedly didn’t know what he was signing with the EO that put Bannon on the Principals Committee. Any involvement of John Bolton in national security matters will make the US less secure.
he can’t have any conditions because as an active-duty appointee he can’t refuse the job.
bsdetection – He has the choice to accept the position or retire. He cannot refuse an assignment. If he retires, he can set conditions.
Don’t forget K.T. McFarland, Flynn’s deputy who’s still there and was widely reported to be the reason that Hayward turned down the job. A wingnut, conspiracy theorist, like Flynn, she has the orange one’s support. He would rather keep her than the person he initially chose. The fate of McFarland will be an early indicator of whether McMaster will get to pick his own team or be told to accommodate the president’s sycophants.
You mean someone like General Michael Flynn?
The announcement that John Bolton will work with them in a “somewhat different capacity” is hugely disappointing. The neoconservatives who brought us major military disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya among other places just won’t go away. Bolton is probably unconfirmable in the U.S. Senate (Republican Rand Paul is strongly opposed) so whatever position is envisioned for Bolton will have to be one that doesn’t require Senate confirmation.
That should work.
Bolton like Trump avoided going to Vietnam. The apple does not fall far from the tree.
When, where, for how long and with what outfit did YOU serve?
Klastri, boots, bsdetection, others> Quit the lies, complaints, psychotic behavior, and loser attitude! All you profess is that the POTUS is unfit, a coward, etc., all VFN and BS. The POTUS is no wimp in my eyes. He is an intelligent and clever person that has the “Swamp” and MSM spinning their wheels. The only way they think they can get to him is by obstructing all of the work that he is trying to do to make America safe, productive, and life here harmonious for all. Try that you may to defame and criticize him but in the end he will prevail…guarantee!! It has been amazing to follow these posts, and the realization is that all of the libs, dems, and whatevers cannot rationalize that their faulty candidate has lost the election almost four months ago. Still, you are trying to fight a losing battle with lies, innuendos, and self-destroying rhetoric. You lose, he won, move on and get a life. Why are you fighting a losing battle. POTUS will overcome and stand tall by “Making America Great Again.” I had to come back to fight another day after reading all the BS being generated by the lefties.
Well good for you!
@ NP5491
Excellent post!
POTUS Trump VP Pence #MAGA
NP you sure you are not the Chump? Your comments are very erratic and unsteady. Very puzzling as to how at one point you are calm and collected and at the next confused, Godspeed and take care of yourself. Aloha!
Nice post NP. These snowflakes just don’t get it. We should be good for another eight years and probably many more. Appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Keaukaha> I guess it must be that I’m getting older, and I don’t have the great patience that I had before. Can’t sit back and see the country the way it is because of the misinformation game being played. Sorry to disappoint, I’s not the Chump. Take care!
Klastri> I cannot let you badmouth POTUS since he cannot defend himself on this post. Someone has to keep you and all the bad and false things you say in check. Is that good enough for you? You say you also served, in what capacity? Be honest?
agree..Bolton serves Israel but has never served America well. Horrid, bitter little man really.
Klastri, considering your hatred of pointless wars, why would you question acts to avoid being drafted into fighting one? Could it be symptoms of your psychosis?
Klastri tries to sound tough behind a keyboard. Parachute him into the heart of Syria and watch him scream like a little girl, he won’t be so tough.
I served. You probably didn’t.
Stuff it.
Thank you for your service.
I am from a military family, and deeply support our military, but am able to forgive a young Trump who felt he had better things to do than risk slogging through the jungles of Vietnam for a questionable purpose.
nomu – Of course you can, because you obviously worship Trump. Really obviously.
Wrong again. I did not vote for Trump, and can find many things to fault him for.
My fascination is that Trump haters are more unbalanced than Obama haters.
klastri and his gang of losers prove that day in and day out.
2 minutes to midnite of the nuclear holocaust.
Great choice. Good luck and please protect us from evil people.
Didn’t Trump once say that he knew more than the generals?
Yeah, it only took the Bumbler In Chief three attempts to get the position filled with someone who appears to be competent…
All of you Anti-Trump people are partly responsible for him being president. If you only realized after Obama’s second term that over half the country was disatisfied with his leadership and even more repulsed by the Democratic Party’s backing of Hillary Clinton, you should have taken action to have the party offer up a better candidate than her. As the election results have shown,more people despise Hillary Clinton than they do Trump. If your party backed a far less flawed candidate, more than likely the result would have been different. Trump would not be president and you would not have people protesting and looting on the street.
If you are a registered democrat, I would seriously consider getting involved to help fix your party. Not to say that the Republican Party is any better. Both political parties are broken. That’s the other reason why Trump won.
It is a fact that he Democratic party has steadily lost governmental representation on both the national and state levels. They are a dying party with no fix in sight.