It’s being reported now that the White House has a replacement in mind for Gen. McMaster, which means McMaster could be out the door by the end of this month:
EXCLUSIVE: White House is preparing to replace H.R. McMaster as national security adviser, in a move orchestrated by CoS John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis, according to five sources. pic.twitter.com/QsonsfU5EI
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 1, 2018
BREAKING: White House preparing for exit of national security adviser HR McMaster -
— CNBC (@CNBC) March 1, 2018
NBC News https://t.co/rxPXMvVskU
Citing five sources, NBC News reporting National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster could be out as early as next month https://t.co/rQ9xTBqMXm
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) March 1, 2018
The White House is preparing to replace H.R. McMaster as national security adviser as early as next month in a move orchestrated by chief of staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis, according to five people familiar with the discussions.
The move would be the latest in a long string of staff shakeups at the White House over the past year and comes after months of strained relations between the president and McMaster.
A leading candidate to become President Donald Trump’s third national security adviser is the auto industry executive Stephen Biegun, according to the officials.
Biegun, who currently serves as vice president of international governmental affairs for the Ford Motor Company, is no stranger to the White House. He served on the National Security Council staff from 2001 to 2003, including as a senior staffer for then-national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Rice introduced Biegun to Mattis, recommending him for a position in the administration, according to a close associate of Rice. After Mattis met with Biegun at a think tank event he was convinced Biegun would be a good fit for the national security adviser role, the associate said.
Two people close to Biegun said he would need several weeks to get his financial affairs in order to be able to join the administration this spring.
Mr. Biegun did not respond himself to a request for comment, but Ford Motor Company spokesperson Christin Baker said, “Steve has no plans to leave Ford.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Remember, McMaster replaced Flynn in early 2017. And as I said before, he never seemed like a good fit for the White House. So I won’t be crying when he’s gone. He really never should have been hired in the first place. John Bolton, who interviewed for that position, would have been a much better fit and still would. But for whatever reason, Trump keeps passing on him.