--- title: Donald Trump: National Security Advisor Picks Narrowed description: President Trump is holding interviews with four finalists this weekend to replace former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn. canonical: https://time.com/4675975/donald-trump-national-security-picks/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-02-18T21:45:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T11:45:59.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: President Trump Narrows National Security Picks to Four og:description: Including former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. og:url: https://time.com/4675975/donald-trump-national-security-picks/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt855b471a3f6a29dc/6988baf8a988ca24916bb0f6/trump7.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4708 og:image:height: 2648 og:image:alt: Donald Trump og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: President Trump Narrows National Security Picks to Four twitter:description: Including former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt855b471a3f6a29dc/6988baf8a988ca24916bb0f6/trump7.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Trump Will Interview Four Potential National Security Advisors > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=4960a1a8-aa06-4126-9d42-90df840070f0&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Trump's Trumpiest Comments From That Press Conference [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Trump's Trumpiest Comments From That Press Conference](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/pq1mKHYq.m3u8) (1:40)  _Published 2017-02-16. President Trump held a loose, combative press conference that touched on his views on Russia, the first weeks of his Administration and his views on the media._ by [Zeke J Miller / Melbourne, Fla.](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke J Miller / Melbourne, Fla. Updated: Dec 13, 2023 11:45 AM UTCPublished: Feb 18, 2017 9:45 PM UTC by [Zeke J Miller / Melbourne, Fla.](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke J Miller / Melbourne, Fla. Updated: Dec 13, 2023 11:45 AM UTCPublished: Feb 18, 2017 9:45 PM UTC **Correction appended, Feb. 22, 2017** President Trump is holding interviews with four finalists this weekend to replace [former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn](http://time.com/4670930/white-house-president-trump-asked-for-flynns-resignation/), the White House said Saturday. The White House initially had hoped to have [a replacement for Flynn](http://time.com/4674284/trump-pick-robert-harward-michael-flynn-national-security-adviser/) by Friday. But Trump’s top pick for the post, Robert Harward, a retired vice admiral, backed out of the job over family concerns and the president’s refusal to [provide him control over staffing decisions](http://time.com/4670486/michael-flynn-resignation-record/). Aides said afterward that Trump is broadening his search for the post. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trump will speak with four finalists for the job and “potentially more” candidates Sunday. The identified candidates are Army strategist Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, acting national security advisor and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, and West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen. Trump fired Flynn on Monday amid revelations that he had [misled Vice President Mike Pence](http://time.com/4669847/michael-flynn-mike-pence-russia-apology/) on the nature of his contacts with the Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Flynn was also the subject of internal concern over reports of discontent and dysfunction within the National Security Council during his brief tenure. Former CIA director David Petraeus, who was identified by White House aides as a finalist for the post almost immediately after Flynn’s exit, is no longer under consideration, Spicer said. That confirmation comes after Petraeus spoke out against the White House’s efforts to limit the authority of the national security advisor Friday at the Munich Security Conference. “Whoever it is that would agree to take that position certainly should do so with some very, very significant assurances that he or she would have authorities over the personnel of the organization, that there would be a commitment to a disciplined process and procedures,” Petraeus said. Speaking to reporters Saturday on Air Force One, Trump said he has a favorite for the job, adding he’ll make a decision in a “couple of days.” “I’ve been thinking about someone for the last three or four days, we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “I’m meeting with that person. They’re all good, they’re all great people.” **Correction:** The original version of this story misstated the rank of West Point superintendent Robert Caslen. He is a Lieutenant General, not a Lieutenant Colonel. ## Transcript As you know, our administration inherited many problems across government and across the economy. To be honest, I inherited a mess, it's a mess. At home and abroad, a mess. I turned on the TV, opened the newspapers. And I see stories of chaos. Chaos, yet it is the exact opposite this administration is running like a fine- tuned machine. We; re becoming a drug infested nation. Drugs are becoming cheaper that candy bars. We're not gonna let it happen any longer. Are you going to include the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus? Well I would. I tell you what, do you want to set up the meeting? Do you want to set up the meeting Are they friend of yours? No, no, no, I'm just a reporter. No, set up the meeting. Number one, I am the least anti- Semitic person that you've ever seen in your entire life Number two, racism, the least racist person. You mentioned the vessel, the spy vessel, off the coast of the United States. Not good. I was given that information. I don't know. I was just given. I own nothing in Russia. I have no loans in Russia. I don't have any deals in Russia. The whole Russian thing, that's a ruse. It's a ruse. Hillary Clinton did a reset, remember? With the stupid plastic button that made us look like a bunch of jerks. I watch CNN, it's so much anger and hatred and just the hatred. The leaks are absolutely real. 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