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Home International News Donald Trump appoints McMaster and Kellogg to top security roles
International News
February 21, 2017

Donald Trump appoints McMaster and Kellogg to top security roles

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The president makes two "very special" appointments following claims his former national security adviser lied to Mike Pence.

The president makes two “very special” appointments following claims his former national security adviser lied to Mike Pence.

U.S PRESIDENT Donald Trump has named his new national security adviser and new security chief of staff.

Career military man Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster replaces Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

Mr Flynn resigned amid controversy over his dealings with Russia and accusations that he had lied to vice-president Mike Pence.

Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg will become chief of staff for national security.

Mr Trump said Lt Gen McMaster was 'highly respected by everyone in the military'
Mr Trump said Lt Gen McMaster was ‘highly respected by everyone in the military’

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, Mr Trump said the pair working together would be “very, very special”.

The president called Lt Gen McMaster, who has specialised in counter-insurgency warfare, a “man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience”.

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Mr Trump added that he would ask John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, to work in his team in a “somewhat different capacity”.

Mr Kellogg had been Mr Trump's acting adviser
Mr Kellogg had been the President’s acting adviser

Sky News Correspondent Siobhan Robbins said: “We knew that Donald Trump over the weekend had been looking at four or five different candidates.”

She added: “HR McMaster is very well respected. He is well known in the Pentagon and he was recently recognised as one of the top most influential people in the world.”

Lt Gen McMaster, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, said his new role was “a privilege”.

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During his long military career, the 54-year-old directed a transparency task force in Afghanistan and held key roles in the Iraq and Gulf wars.

Mr Trump initially approached Robert Harward for the national security adviser post
Mr Trump initially approached Robert Harward for the national security adviser post

He is also known for his vocal criticism of the US military’s involvement in the Vietnam War and authored a book entitled “Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies That Led to Vietnam”.

Mr Kellogg said he was “very honoured” by his appointment and paid tribute to Lt Gen McMaster, who he described as a “great statesman and a great soldier”.

Last week, Mr Trump asked retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward to replace Michael Flynn as his national security adviser, but the former Navy Seal turned down the offer.

Mr Harward said it was “purely a personal issue”, but US media suggested he wanted to bring in his own team. news.sky.com