HR McMaster to resign as Trump’s national security adviser

Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster will resign as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, it was announced Thursday.

McMaster will also resign from the military.

He will be replaced with John R. Bolton, a former United States ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton will take the position on April 9.

In a statement, McMaster thanked Trump and the members of the National Security Council.

“I am especially proud to have served alongside the men and women of the National Security Council staff who established a strong foundation for protecting the American people, promoting American prosperity, achieving peace through strength, and advancing American influence,” he said.

“I know that these patriots will continue to serve our president and our nation with distinction.”

According to The New York Times, McMaster had been discussing his departure with Trump for several weeks, but decided to speed up his departure because “questions about his status were casting a shadow over his conversations with foreign officials.”

Trump confirmed the news in a tweet on Thursday.

I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton will be my new National Security Advisor. I am very thankful for the service of General H.R. McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend. There will be an official contact handover on 4/9.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2018

Last week, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the pair had a “good working relationship” and stressed that there would be no changes.

Just spoke to @POTUS and Gen. H.R. McMaster – contrary to reports they have a good working relationship and there are no changes at the NSC.

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) March 16, 2018

This announcement is the latest in shakeups at the White House.

Trump replaced Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson with C.I.A. director Mike Pompeo last week.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions also fired former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe last week.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with McMaster, a respected three-star general, and talk that McMaster would soon leave the administration had picked up in recent weeks.

The news also came after someone at the White House leaked that Trump was urged in briefing documents not to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin about his recent re-election win. Trump did it anyway.

McMaster was brought in after Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was dismissed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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