Donald Trump lists familiar White House faces as possible John Bolton successors | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Donald Trump lists familiar White House faces as possible John Bolton successors

Washington | ByReuters
Sep 18, 2019 10:38 AM IST

The national security adviser provides advice to the president on defence, security and diplomatic issues. The job, the highest White House position on national security, does not require confirmation by the US Senate.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday listed five possible replacements for recently fired national security adviser John Bolton, most of whom are already familiar faces from within his administration.

US President Donald Trump releases the list of possible replacements for John Bolton.(Reuters Photo)
US President Donald Trump releases the list of possible replacements for John Bolton.(Reuters Photo)

The national security adviser provides advice to the president on defence, security and diplomatic issues. The job, the highest White House position on national security, does not require confirmation by the US Senate.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The candidates Trump said he was considering include Ricky Waddell, who was deputy national security adviser for a year when retired General H.R.McMaster had the top job, and Vice President Mike Pence’s security aide Keith Kellogg, who was executive secretary of the National Security Council until Bolton took over the office 17 months ago.

A third candidate is hostage negotiator Robert O’Brien, who has a long history in Republican foreign policy circles.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said another possible successor to Bolton was Fred Fleitz. A former CIA officer, Fleitz has also served as executive secretary of the National Security Council and was Bolton’s chief of staff at the State Department.

An outspoken critic of Iran, Fleitz has espoused hard-line views on Islam. He told Breitbart News in 2017 that some Muslim communities in the United States were susceptible to a “radical world view that wants to destroy modern society, create a global caliphate, and impose sharia law on everyone on Earth.”

Trump’s fifth listed candidate is Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, under secretary for nuclear security of the US Department of Energy.

Gordon-Hagerty has worked in the private sector and as a staff member in the US House of Representatives on security issues. She also served on the National Security Council and in other roles in the Energy Department addressing crisis management, emergency response and nuclear weapons.

However, White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham issued a statement later saying the list mentioned by Trump to the reporters “was not the full list, and there are others being considered.” She did not name any additional people.

Bolton was abruptly fired last week over his handling of North Korea and Venezuela. A leading foreign policy hawk and Trump’s third national security adviser, Bolton had pressed the president not to let up pressure on North Korea despite diplomatic efforts.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On