McMaster: ‘I don’t think I’m in an impossible situation’

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National security adviser H.R. McMaster during an interview that aired Sunday said his job is to give President Trump his best advice and he has no difficulty in carrying out his role.

During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” McMaster was asked about comments from retired Army Lt. Colonel John Nagl, who said McMaster is in an impossible situation because the president expects him to defend the indefensible.

“I don’t think I’m in an impossible situation,” McMaster said.

{mosads}”I think what the president expects and what is my duty to do as national security adviser and as an officer in our army, is to give my best advice. To give my best, candid advice.”

McMaster said he was not elected to make policy.

“What my job is, is to give the president options, to integrate the efforts across all of our agencies and departments, and then once the president makes decisions to help him execute those decisions to protect and advance the interests of the American people,” he said.

“So, I find no difficulty at all serving our nation and serving the president in my current capacity.”

McMaster was further asked whether Trump asked for his advice before talking about former FBI Director James Comey in his meeting with Russian officials.

“The president always asks for advice before these sorts of sessions, but the subject of the FBI investigation didn’t come up,” McMaster said.

“But really, that conversation, although I don’t want to talk about any more of the specifics from within it, covered a broad range of subjects.”
 
He pointed to topics related to areas in which the country thinks Russia’s behavior is “unacceptable.”
 
“But then also look for areas where we can cooperate and begin to move toward a resolution of conflicts in Ukraine, in Syria,” he said, “and then to be able to cooperate more effectively in our counterterrorism campaigns.”
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