Trump decides to fire senior security aide
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E-mail Xinhua, March 16, 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to sack H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser, and was "actively" talking about other potential replacements, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Five people with knowledge of the plan were quoted by the U.S. media outlet as saying that Trump was "comfortable" with firing McMaster, with whom he has never had personal chemistry.
They added that Trump was willing to take time implementing the move so as to ensure McMaster does not feel "humiliated" and that there is a strong successor to replace him.
Later, a White House official told Bloomberg that Trump has not made a final decision on removing McMaster.
However, Trump has reportedly told White House Chief of Staff John Kelly that he wants to fire McMaster and asked Kelly to help him weigh on replacement options, according to two people familiar with their talks.
Trump has also complained that McMaster was too rigid and that his briefings went on too long and seemed irrelevant, according to reports.
Several people, including John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that Trump has met with for several times since assuming office, have been listed by the media as potential candidates for McMaster's post.
If confirmed, the change of personnel was expected to mark yet another shakeup in the senior ranks of the Trump administration.
The president announced to fire State Secretary Rex Tillerson on Tuesday, replacing him with Mike Pompeo, the current chief of Central Intelligence Agency.
John McEntee, Trump's longtime personal aide, was forced out of the White House on the same day after his security clearance was abruptly revoked.
On Wednesday, Trump nominated former TV analyst Larry Kudlow to replace Gary Cohn, his top economic adviser that quit over tariff disagreements with Trump.
The U.S. media said that the mood inside the White House has verged on mania and anxiety in recent days due to the president's increasing interest in sacking people around him.
U.S. analysts said the dramatic personnel moves would amplify Trump's authority in the decision-making process.
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