Next week it will be well-known, who will occupy after the departure of John Bolton as national security adviser to the US President, the delicate top posts. Donald Trump fueled the speculation and already excluded a first candidate.
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, will not take on the job in addition, Trump said Thursday in Washington. He offered the Pompeo, but he prefers to have someone else next to him on the post.
"I actually talked to Mike Pompeo about it," Trump said. However, he also sees it as his foreign minister. The US President said there are currently 15 possible candidates for the National Security Advisor. "Many people want this job, it's a great job."
On Tuesday, Trump had completely unexpectedly announced the dismissal of the previous National Security Advisor, John Bolton. The president justified the sacking with substantive disagreements.
Bolton himself had then announced via Twitter that he had offered Trump the eve of his resignation. Trump wanted to talk to him about it on Tuesday morning. Instead followed the announcement of Bolton's dismissal by Trump, also on the short message platform popular with the President.
Speculation is about Grenell, McMaster and Hook
According to US media reports, among others, the current US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, come into question. Other sources include the former general HR McMaster, who was once dismissed as Trump's security advisor. Also Brian Hook, the special representative of the US government for Iran, is accordingly in the discussion.
The combination of Foreign Minister and National Security Adviser was last when Henry Kissinger occupied both posts temporarily at the same time in the 1970s.
There had been intense tensions behind the scenes between Pompeo and Bolton. With Bolton's departure, Pompeo's influence within the government is growing.
Trump expressly praised his Foreign Minister on Thursday. "He is fantastic." Pompeo and he understood each other very well. "We agree on a lot of things." On some issues, however, the views also diverge, he added.
