President Trump officially has his new national security adviser.
A week after announcing the exit of John Bolton, Trump said Wednesday his new national security adviser is Robert O'Brien, who currently serves as U.S. hostage envoy. Trump in July sent O'Brien to Sweden amid rapper A$AP Rocky's assault trial.
Trump last week said he asked for Bolton's the resignation because he "disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions," although Bolton disputed Trump's characterization of his exit and said he offered his resignation. O'Brien, who now replaces Bolton, will be Trump's fourth national security adviser in fewer than three years.
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In his tweet announcing the news, Trump said he has "worked long & hard with Robert," although The New York Times' Maggie Haberman reports Trump "didn't really know him" but "liked his portfolio." The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump "liked the look of" O'Brien, which the Journal wrote is a "key condition for many Trump appointments."
Trump himself, however, has downplayed the importance of the national security adviser job.
"It's a lot of fun to work with Donald Trump," Trump said last week. "And it's very easy, actually, to work with me. You know why it’s easy? Because I make all the decisions. They don't have to work."
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