H.R. McMaster aims to “inoculate” Trump from those who “push buttons”

Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser during Donald Trump’s presidency, has shared insights from his tenure in a new book. In an appearance on CBS Mornings, he expressed his hopes that the book, titled “At War With Ourselves,” might help “inoculate” the former president against external influences if he returns to the White House next year.

McMaster explained that he wants to ensure that Trump is not easily manipulated by outside forces or pushed into decisions based on his insecurities. “In writing the story, I’m hoping to… inoculate him a little bit,” he stated, aiming to help Trump make informed choices in the future.

During his tenure, lasting just over a year, McMaster played a critical role in advising Trump on national security matters. He emphasized the importance of teamwork in helping the president make tough decisions. However, McMaster also highlighted the difficulties Trump faced in maintaining those decisions amidst various pressures.

In his book, McMaster recounts how Trump sometimes struggled to differentiate between sound analysis and less credible input. He touched on interactions with foreign leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who attempted to sway Trump’s opinions and actions.

On a recent episode of “Face the Nation,” McMaster elaborated on this susceptibility to manipulation, especially in relation to Putin’s tactics. He grappled with how much detail to include in his book, considering that Putin himself would likely be aware of the manipulation attempts. McMaster believes discussing these influences could help a potential future President Trump become less vulnerable to such strategies.

As for the current political landscape, McMaster commented on Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. He expressed a desire to learn more about her perspectives on foreign policy and national defense issues, particularly amid concerns of a rising “axis of aggressors” consisting of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

He remarked that the current global environment poses significant dangers and called for clarity on Harris’s approach to “peace through strength.” McMaster noted that perceptions of American weakness could provoke hostility from enemies, suggesting that the Biden administration has not effectively countered that perception.

McMaster further shared that he hopes his book will provide valuable lessons for future national security advisers. He emphasized the importance of establishing a decision-making process that can support presidents, especially those with challenging personalities, to make optimal choices that align with national interests. “What I’m hoping is that a future national security adviser who might be working for kind of a difficult personality as president — you might see in this book how you can put together a process that can deliver good outcomes for the American people,” he said.

In this reflection on his time in the administration, McMaster aims to provide insights that might prepare future leaders to navigate complex political landscapes while safeguarding national interests.