Trump loses pick for top security advisor

Donald Trump’s reported pick for national security advisor turned down the job just hours after the president defended the ousted Michael Flynn, saying he “wasn’t wrong” for dealing with Russia, reports AFP from Washington.
Retired Navy Admiral Robert Harward’s rejection of the key post late Thursday leaves Trump without a replacement for Flynn, the first high profile casualty of the US leader’s tenure, and it added to a perception of disarray in his administration.
Harward told CNN he bowed out because of family and financial commitments, but several US media outlets reported that he was unhappy because he had no guarantees that the National Security Council—and not Trump’s political advisors—would be in charge of policy.
Members of the council currently include Steve Bannon, Trump’s controversial far-right former campaign manager.
One Harward friend told CNN that he didn’t want the job because of chaos at the White House.
Flynn, a close advisor on Trump’s 2016 campaign, resigned after it was revealed that he held telephone conversations during the election race with Russia’s ambassador in Washington about US sanctions.
Flynn was no stranger to controversy.
His past included a paid appearance at a 2015 dinner sitting next to President Vladimir Putin and suggestions that Russia’s seizure of Crimea and its support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad were acceptable.
Russia was the hot topic of a lengthy and often rambling press conference given by Trump on Thursday.
The president insisted neither he nor his campaign team had contacts with Russian officials in the run-up to last year’s US election, contradicting an explosive report which he dismissed as “fake news.”

 

Trump loses pick for top security advisor

Donald Trumps reported pick for national security advisor turned down the job just hours after the president defended the ousted Michael Flynn, saying he wasnt wrong for dealing with Russia, reports AFP from Washington. Retired Navy Admiral Robert Harwards rejection of the key post late Thursday leaves Trump without a replacement for Flynn, the first high profile casualty of the US leaders tenure, and it added to a perception of disarray in his administration. Harward told CNN he bowed out because of family and financial commitments, but several US media outlets reported that he was unhappy because he had no guarantees that the National Security Counciland not Trumps political advisorswould be in charge of policy. Members of the council currently include Steve Bannon, Trumps controversial far-right former campaign manager. One Harward friend told CNN that he didnt want the job because of chaos at the White House. Flynn, a close advisor on Trumps 2016 campaign, resigned after it was revealed that he held telephone conversations during the election race with Russias ambassador in Washington about US sanctions. Flynn was no stranger to controversy. His past included a paid appearance at a 2015 dinner sitting next to President Vladimir Putin and suggestions that Russias seizure of Crimea and its support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad were acceptable. Russia was the hot topic of a lengthy and often rambling press conference given by Trump on Thursday. The president insisted neither he nor his campaign team had contacts with Russian officials in the run-up to last years US election, contradicting an explosive report which he dismissed as fake news.