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

In his newly released book, “At War With Ourselves,” Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who previously served as national security adviser to Donald Trump, aims to prepare the former president for potential challenges if he resumes his role in the White House after the upcoming election. McMaster expressed his desire to “inoculate” Trump against outside influences that could manipulate his decisions.

Appearing on “CBS Mornings,” McMaster remarked, “In writing the story, I’m hoping to, if he’s reelected, to inoculate him a little bit. So he’s not that easy to, you know, manipulate and to appeal to some of his insecurities.”

His book recounts the dynamic between Trump and his national security team, emphasizing their efforts to assist him in making sound decisions. McMaster noted, “At times, he would make really tough decisions,” underscoring the internal challenges Trump faced in upholding those choices due to external pressures.

Throughout his tenure, which lasted just over a year, McMaster observed firsthand how Trump grappled with distinguishing sound analysis from the information presented to him. The book delves into Trump’s susceptibility to manipulation by world leaders, including Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, detailing how they sought to influence his decisions.

During an appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” McMaster elaborated on Trump’s vulnerabilities to foreign influences. He weighed whether to disclose specific instances of how Putin attempted to sway Trump, believing that sharing this information could ultimately benefit a potential future Trump administration. “In writing about how Putin was trying to press Donald Trump’s buttons, that will make future President Trump—if he’s elected—less susceptible to those tactics,” he stated.

Addressing the current political landscape, McMaster commented on Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, urging for clarity on her foreign policy and defense strategies. He highlighted the dangers posed by a coalition of aggressor nations, specifically mentioning Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. “It’s a really dangerous time, so we need to hear more about what does she mean by ‘peace through strength,'” he added.

McMaster criticized the Biden administration for its perceived failures in projecting strength, stating, “I think what has been provocative to our enemies has been the perception of American weakness, and I think they haven’t helped that perception very much.” He stressed the urgency of addressing these geopolitical challenges.

Additionally, McMaster believes his insights could be valuable for the next national security adviser, especially when dealing with a president characterized as a “difficult personality.” He emphasized the importance of establishing a structured process that enables presidents to make informed decisions that align with American interests.

“What I’m hoping is that a future national security adviser who might be working for kind of a difficult personality as president will see in this book how you can put together a process that can deliver good outcomes for the American people,” he reflected.

Ultimately, McMaster’s narrative serves as both a personal account of his experiences in the Trump administration and a cautionary tale about the complexities of presidential decision-making in an increasingly complicated global arena. His recommendations aim to provide guidance for navigating these challenges in the future.