TRUMP IN PALM BEACH
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ON THE HIRING OF NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER H.R. MCMASTER
“Don’t lecture Trump,” Woodward wrote about former White House political strategist Steve Bannon’s briefing with McMaster at Mar-a-Lago on President’s Day weekend 2017.
“He doesn’t like professors. He doesn’t like intellectuals. Trump was a guy who never went to class. Never got the syllabus. Never took a note, Never went to a lecture. The night before the final, he comes in at midnight from the fraternity house, puts on a pot of coffee, takes your notes, memorizes as much as he can, walks in at 8 in the morning and gets a C. And that’s good enough. He’s going to be a billionaire.”
Bannon advised McMaster to wear his uniform. McMaster declined, saying he his retirement was in the works and if selected, he would serve as national security advisor as a civilian.
The meeting did not go well, Woodward wrote: “McMaster talked too much and the interview was short.”
In a conversation with Bannon after the interview, Woodward wrote that Trump asked, “Who was that guy? He wrote a book, didn’t he? It said bad things about people. I thought you told me he was in the Army ... he’s dressed like a beer salesman.”
John Bolton, a former U.N. ambassador, summa cum laude graduate from Yale and a regular contributor to Fox News was next. According to Woodward, Trump liked Bolton’s answers but not his bushy mustache.
The president then interviewed Lt. General Robert Caslen, the superintendent of West Point. Although the interview went well, Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, recommended McMaster “because the media loved him,” Woodward wrote.
The next day, Trump met again with Bolton and McMaster, Woodward wrote. Bolton still had the mustache but McMaster wore his uniform.
Afterward, Bannon and Kushner told the men there would be a decision in the next couple of days. But Trump wanted to make a decision quickly, concerned about the bad press he was getting on Flynn’s resignation. Trump summoned McMaster, who was still at Mar-a-Lago. Bannon told McMaster that he thought the president would offer him the job
“I’ve got to tell some people. I can’t tell the president that I can take it. I’ve got to tell the Army,” Woodward wrote.
Trump offered McMaster the job. McMaster agreed. Them Trump summoned the media into Mar-a-Lago to announce his new pick for national security advisor.
“McMaster sat awkwardly on a gold brocade sofa beside the president ... McMaster’s shell shock was plain on camera as he shook Trump’s hand, ”Woodward wrote.
Thirteen months later, Trump replaced McMaster with Bolton.
ON ORDERING THE MISSILE STRIKE IN SYRIA IN APRIL 2017
During a visit six weeks later, Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria after meeting with 14 of his top advisers at Mar-a-Lago. The strike, in response to a Syrian gas attack on civilians weeks earlier, came during the same weekend Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to Woodward, as dessert was being served, Trump told Xi, “We’re in the process of bombing Syria because of its gas attack.”
“Say that again,” Xi said through the interpreter. Trump repeated it, adding that 59 missiles hit their targets. Xi told Trump he understood and that “he (Syrian President Bashar Al Assad) deserved it.”
ON TRUMP’S TV WATCHING HABITS
Woodward also quoted Bannon about Trump’s obsession with watching news shows.
“At Mar-a-Lago, Trump would come back from playing golf. It’d be a Saturday afternoon in February or March. Absolutely stunningly beautiful ... Melania would be in the room right next door, ”Woodward wrote, summarizing Bannon’s comments. Trump would turn on CNN and get agitated.
Bannon suggested he spend time with Melania and their son Barron, then 11 years old. “What are you doing? Why do you do this? Cut this off. It’s not meaningful. Just enjoy yourself.”