US President Donald Trump called on a flight from Albuquerque to Mountain View the names of five candidates for the National Security Advisor job, fellow journalists said.
The five candidates he can imagine in the important office are:
- his special envoy for hostage-taking, Robert O'Brien
- former Deputy National Security Advisor, Rick Waddell
- the head of the National Agency for Nuclear Safety, Lisa Gordon-Hagerty
- Bolton's former chief of staff Fred Fleitz
- National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, Keith Kellogg
Grenell no candidate
Immediately after the expulsion of Bolton Trump had said he had 15 possible candidates for the post of National Security Advisor. "Many people want this job, it's a great job."
The US Ambassador in Germany, Richard Grenell, is therefore not in the race. Several US media had earlier reported that Grenell was among the possible candidates. He had made a name for himself as governor of Trump in Europe. In addition, the names of HR McMaster, whom he had previously hired as a consultant, circulated; Brian Hook, the special representative of the US government for Iran; and Stephen Biegun, who is currently working on North Korea in the State Department.
Following the expulsion of hardliner John Bolton on Tuesday last week, Trump must seek a new security adviser - the fourth in his term. Trump had fired Bolton over substantive disagreements.
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Prominent departures of the Trump government: And you're out
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