McMaster: Trump Requires a ‘Competent Team’ by His Side

Former national security adviser H. R. McMaster has suggested that to avoid manipulation, former President Trump should surround himself with qualified national security experts. In a recent appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” McMaster talked about his upcoming memoir, set for release on August 27, which details his efforts to safeguard Trump’s “independence of judgment.” McMaster emphasized that in any administration, there are individuals who may seek to manipulate a president’s decisions.

McMaster elaborated on the complexities Trump experienced during his presidency, highlighting the internal conflicts he sometimes faced. “He carries with him these opposing ideas that he sometimes finds difficult to reconcile,” McMaster noted. He believes it is crucial for Trump to have a competent team around him to help clarify his agenda.

According to McMaster, Trump tends to make “sound decisions” when presented with a variety of options. However, he often struggles to maintain those decisions in the face of external pressures. “During my first year, I observed that when you provide him with the best analysis and multiple options, it’s in comparing those choices that he can assess long-term costs and consequences, making sound decisions,” he said.

He also pointed out that there are times when Trump finds it challenging to stay committed to his choices. “People know how to push his buttons, especially those related to maintaining the full support of his political base,” he added.

An excerpt from McMaster’s upcoming book, “At War with Ourselves,” was published by The Wall Street Journal, where he expressed uncertainty about whether to include details about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to manipulate Trump. “Putin is the best liar in the world. I struggled with whether to write about how he tried to manipulate President Trump,” McMaster recalled. He considered that addressing these tactics in his memoir might benefit future leaders. “By writing about how Putin pressed Trump’s buttons, it might make a future President Trump less susceptible to those tactics,” he stated.

In the excerpt, McMaster recounted an incident where Trump allegedly asked him to send a news clipping along with a note to Putin following the 2018 poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter. In response to this revelation, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the claim, calling it “fake news” designed to promote McMaster’s book. Cheung characterized the book as filled with “made-up, salacious fabrications” and suggested it belonged in the discount section of a fiction store.

This discussion sheds light not only on McMaster’s views regarding Trump’s decision-making process but also on the broader topic of foreign influence in U.S. leadership. As issues of national security become increasingly complex, having a reliable team of advisors may become vital in navigating the challenging landscape.

Overall, McMaster’s reflections suggest that the dynamics within Trump’s presidency included significant challenges related to advice and influence, elements that are critical for any leader dealing with complex global politics.

Source: The Hill