Robert Harward reportedly turns down Trump's offer to become new national security adviser

Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward has told President Trump he will not accept the position of national security adviser, the Financial Times and several other media outlets reported Thursday.

Harward was asked to replace Michael Flynn, the retired general who resigned Monday after it was reported that he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., then lied about it, and that the White House was warned he could be subject to blackmail. Harward, a senior executive at Lockheed Martin, is close to Defense Secretary James Mattis, and a person with knowledge of Harward's discussions with Trump said he is "conflicted between the call of duty and the obvious dysfunctionality."

Another friend of Harward's told the Financial Times that Harward was concerned about whether he would be able to hire his own staff, especially after he was told Flynn's deputy, KT McFarland, had been asked to stay. When Trump offered Harward the position, he didn't say no right away, telling him he needed time to think about it.

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