H.R. McMaster

Well, you know, President Trump obviously values loyalty like any president would. But also, you know, with President Trump, like any other president, right? He's the most powerful person in the world, you could argue, right? So people are going to try to ingratiate themselves to him and try to use him to advance their agenda. So, you know, people, they know how to push his buttons.

Well, you know, President Trump obviously values loyalty like any president would. But also, you know, with President Trump, like any other president, right? He's the most powerful person in the world, you could argue, right? So people are going to try to ingratiate themselves to him and try to use him to advance their agenda. So, you know, people, they know how to push his buttons.

You know, I mentioned in the You know, the first meeting I went into the Oval Office, I describe it as an environment of competitive sycophancy. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, your instincts are always so good, Mr. President. You're so wise. I was like, oh my gosh, are these people serious? So I think- Does he fall for that? Yeah. Yeah, he does.

You know, I mentioned in the You know, the first meeting I went into the Oval Office, I describe it as an environment of competitive sycophancy. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, your instincts are always so good, Mr. President. You're so wise. I was like, oh my gosh, are these people serious? So I think- Does he fall for that? Yeah. Yeah, he does.

You know, I mentioned in the You know, the first meeting I went into the Oval Office, I describe it as an environment of competitive sycophancy. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, your instincts are always so good, Mr. President. You're so wise. I was like, oh my gosh, are these people serious? So I think- Does he fall for that? Yeah. Yeah, he does.

It's absolutely stunning.

It's absolutely stunning.

It's absolutely stunning.

No, but I think a lot of people do. And really, part of my motivation in writing this, not that the president's going to necessarily read it or anything, and there's a lot of positive about what he accomplished in here and so forth. But I want it to be a bit of a warning to him. The guy was in the real estate business. Of course, you've always had people try to manipulate him or so forth.

No, but I think a lot of people do. And really, part of my motivation in writing this, not that the president's going to necessarily read it or anything, and there's a lot of positive about what he accomplished in here and so forth. But I want it to be a bit of a warning to him. The guy was in the real estate business. Of course, you've always had people try to manipulate him or so forth.

No, but I think a lot of people do. And really, part of my motivation in writing this, not that the president's going to necessarily read it or anything, and there's a lot of positive about what he accomplished in here and so forth. But I want it to be a bit of a warning to him. The guy was in the real estate business. Of course, you've always had people try to manipulate him or so forth.

But he's particularly vulnerable to that kind of tactic. And the other tactic I mentioned is that the president really enjoys positive attention and praise and so forth, also from his loyal political base generally. So oftentimes, he would make, I think, a really tough, great decision, best decision he could make for the American people. And then people get in his ear about it. What do they say?

But he's particularly vulnerable to that kind of tactic. And the other tactic I mentioned is that the president really enjoys positive attention and praise and so forth, also from his loyal political base generally. So oftentimes, he would make, I think, a really tough, great decision, best decision he could make for the American people. And then people get in his ear about it. What do they say?

But he's particularly vulnerable to that kind of tactic. And the other tactic I mentioned is that the president really enjoys positive attention and praise and so forth, also from his loyal political base generally. So oftentimes, he would make, I think, a really tough, great decision, best decision he could make for the American people. And then people get in his ear about it. What do they say?

Hey, that's going to make you look weak to your base. That's going to alienate your base.

Hey, that's going to make you look weak to your base. That's going to alienate your base.

Hey, that's going to make you look weak to your base. That's going to alienate your base.

And so it's that kind of effort to influence him, which precludes Donald Trump, I think, from getting to the politics of addition, to bring more people into his movement, his tent, and results in some of the, maybe a couple of the nominations and things that he does, really to just double down on the affirmation from his base.

And so it's that kind of effort to influence him, which precludes Donald Trump, I think, from getting to the politics of addition, to bring more people into his movement, his tent, and results in some of the, maybe a couple of the nominations and things that he does, really to just double down on the affirmation from his base.

And so it's that kind of effort to influence him, which precludes Donald Trump, I think, from getting to the politics of addition, to bring more people into his movement, his tent, and results in some of the, maybe a couple of the nominations and things that he does, really to just double down on the affirmation from his base.