Three Military Men and a Diplomat: Trump’s National Security Candidates by Felicia Schwartz, Thomas M. Burton and Carol E. Lee, Wall Street Journal
President Donald Trump interviewed four candidates for the job of national security adviser Sunday, and may meet more on Monday, a White House spokeswoman said.
The vacancy was created after the president’s first adviser, Mike Flynn, resigned under pressure last week.
The potential replacements who visited Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida were Army strategist Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, acting national security adviser Keith Kellogg, and U.S. Military Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen.
At least two earlier candidates withdrew due to concerns over how much control they would be allowed over staffing and procedures, according to people familiar with the matter.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders denied reports that the new adviser would not have the authority to build a new team in the National Security Council. “Whoever takes this position…in terms of staffing they’ll have full authority to make those decisions,” she said.
Ms. Sanders also defended the firing this past week of an NSC staffer who had reportedly criticized the Trump administration during a private meeting at a Washington think tank. “If you don’t support the president’s agenda it would be very hard to take a position where your job is to carry out and help him accomplish his agenda,” she said.
Ms. Sanders said Saturday that Mr. Trump “may have some additional meetings and names tomorrow,” as he weighs his choice for security adviser. Here’s a more detailed look at the four he met Sunday…