Embattled President Donald Trump has chosen Army Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster as national security adviser, replacing the disgraced and resigned Michael Flynn, whose name is stained with the still murky Russia scandal.
America's status, folks? It's complicated.
POTUS, new NacSec Adv McMaster, NacSec staf Kellogg at Mar-a-Lago "living living" chandeliers, roses, classical music.Odd scene becomes norm pic.twitter.com/o4n1Olvx1N
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) February 20, 2017
when you’re still serving in the military and can’t legally say no pic.twitter.com/UPekAVqLmX
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) February 20, 2017
The Washington Post reports:
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who has been serving in an acting capacity as national security adviser, will be the chief of staff on the National Security Council. President Trump shared the news with reporters as he prepared to leave his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
In announcing the news, the New York Times refers to McMaster as “a widely respected military strategist.”
.@barbarastarrcnn notes that because McMaster is actively serving, he couldn't say no to Trump
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) February 20, 2017
H.R. McMaster wrote the excellent Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 20, 2017
.@tomricks1 on how McMaster got to yes: "his wife won’t kill him if he takes the job, as Harward’s wife might have" https://t.co/xnl9oUWENG
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) February 20, 2017
h.r. mcmaster sound like a He-Man character
— ಠ_ಠ (@MikeIsaac) February 20, 2017
McMaster's book, "Dereliction of Duty," describes just the sort of dysfunctional national security decision-making his job is now to avoid.
— Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) February 20, 2017
.@tomricks1 called the McMaster hire https://t.co/xnl9oUWENG
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) February 20, 2017
George Packer’s 2006 piece on Tal Afar includes a lot on McMaster that’s worth reading https://t.co/MpaRXwEzyr pic.twitter.com/bUXyK5f8Ll
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) February 20, 2017
In announcement at Mar-a-Lago, Pres Trump called Gen McMaster "a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 20, 2017
Fantastic choice. https://t.co/JefwqfOVmC
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) February 20, 2017
How McMaster is going to get along with the Anti-Muslim wing of the White House is going to be uhhhh
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) February 20, 2017
Those of us who have reported on HR McMaster for over a decade had some ideas for how his career would go but uh this is uh
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) February 20, 2017
McMaster speaking to troops: "Every time you disrespect an Iraqi, you’re working for the enemy” https://t.co/Sovnrr05KT via @davidschasteen
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) February 20, 2017
Aside from Army service, H.R. McMaster wrote "Dereliction of Duty," excellent history of bad choices druing Vietnam https://t.co/fkSjNqldh1
— Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) February 20, 2017
Dereliction of Duty, McMaster's book on how military failed 2 stand up 2 LBJ & civilian advisers in Vietnam debacle https://t.co/2LCeA5NH0U
— Michiko Kakutani (@michikokakutani) February 20, 2017
Nice chandelier and bowl of roses at Mar-a-Lago as Pres Trump announced National Security Advisor. (Pool photo by @JayMcMichaelCNN) pic.twitter.com/iLc5TCg87d
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 20, 2017
John McCain praises H.R. McMaster for NSA: “an outstanding choice … a man of genuine intellect, character, and ability” pic.twitter.com/cAbiMXmxeT
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 20, 2017
Last week Tom Cotton floated McMaster as Flynn replacement. At the time, sr WH adviser said he wasn't in the mix. Now he's Trump's pick. https://t.co/RRMgpUWCPq
— Rebecca Berg (@rebeccagberg) February 20, 2017
