Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster recently stated that he would not serve in a second Donald Trump administration if Trump were to win the presidential election. McMaster, who joined the Trump White House in 2017, replacing Michael Flynn, left the administration in 2018 after often conflicting with Trump on various issues. McMaster’s statement comes after his time in the Trump administration, during which he publicly acknowledged Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, a stance that appeared to upset Trump.
In an interview with CNN’s “AC360,” McMaster expressed that while he would consider working in any administration where he believes he can make a difference, he does not see himself serving under Trump again. He also mentioned that he would not serve under Vice President Kamala Harris if she were to win the election, citing policy differences. When questioned about former White House chief of staff John Kelly’s claims that Trump insulted wounded service members, calling them “losers,” McMaster noted that he was not present during that time but found the accusations out of character for Trump.
While McMaster acknowledged that Trump can be offensive at times, particularly in his attacks on the late Sen. John McCain, whom Trump infamously criticized during his 2016 presidential campaign, McMaster described Trump as an “extremely disruptive person.” Despite this, McMaster noted that his role was not to constrain Trump but rather to help him disrupt what needed to be disrupted. Trump’s comments about McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, caused significant controversy at the time, with Trump stating that he preferred soldiers who were not captured.
McMaster’s comments shed light on the strained relationship between him and Trump during their time working together, with McMaster often taking positions that were not in line with the former president’s public stance. McMaster’s refusal to work under Trump again if elected for a second term reflects his personal stance on the matter and a desire to move on from his time in the Trump administration. Despite these differences, McMaster acknowledged Trump’s disruptive nature but expressed disbelief at some of the more controversial statements attributed to him. Trump, on the other hand, has consistently denied making disparaging remarks about service members and has clashed with former associates over the issue.
