Washington: United States President Donald Trump’s national security adviser (NSA), Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster will reportedly resign from his post and will head back to the military, according to defence and administration officials.
Several sources told CNN that the push for a replacement comes after months of personal tension between McMaster and Trump.
“General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC, and the Dems. One Republican insider explained that the tension between the pair comes from a difference in “personality and style,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
The White House would be in an “awkward spot” trying to oust McMaster because of the turnover in the position already.
Although Pentagon officials are reportedly looking for a possible four-star military job for McMaster that could be viewed as a promotion, “some defence officials caution that the US President may not promote McMaster from three-star general to four-star general and force him to retire.
Trump’s first NSA, Michael Flynn, resigned last year after holding the post for just a month amid controversy over his contact with Russian officials over their alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.
Most officials could not confirm what to offer a new job for McMaster, who might be nominated if he were to leave the White House.
Among options to replace McMaster is General Vincent Brooks, the current commander of US forces in South Korea.
“General Brooks is expected to leave his post on a scheduled rotation in the coming months but his successor has already been earmarked within the Army but not yet made public”, several officials said.
Another name doing the rounds is General John Nicholson who served as the commander of the US coalition in Afghanistan since 2016.
Meanwhile, Congressmen close to Trump do not believe that McMaster’s job is any safer now. “He is safe until he’s not,” a senior Republican said.
“General McMaster works for President Trump. Any decision with regards to staff, the White House will make those determinations,” chief spokesperson Dana White said.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday said that Trump “still had confidence in General McMaster.” (ANI)