Trump rebuffed by Harward over national security adviser offer
US President Donald Trump's attempts to complete his top team suffered another setback overnight when his second pick as national security adviser turned down the offer.
Retired Vice-Admiral Robert Harward he could not make the commitment required, only hours after Trump had trumpeted his selection. The rejection was in stark contrast to the president's claim at a marathon news conference on Thursday that his administration was running like a “fine-tuned machine”.
Harward was being lined up to replace General Michael Flynn, fired earlier in the week over his failure to disclose the nature of his contacts with Russian officials to Vice-President Mike Pence.
"Since retiring, I have the opportunity to address financial and family issues that would have been challenging in this position," Harward, the former navy Seal who works for defence contractor Lockheed Martin in Abu Dhabi, said in a statement.
"Like all service members understand, and live, this job requires 24 hours a day, 7 days a week focus and commitment to do it right. I currently could not make that commitment. My thoughts and prayers are with those that carry such heavy burdens and responsibility for taking care of our country's national security concerns. God bless this great country of ours."
CNN cited a friend of Harward's as saying he did not want to take the job because of the chaotic nature of Trump's administration. The friend reportedly said Harward called the offer a “s**t sandwich”.
The news network also cited an unnamed Republican Party official as saying another sticking point was that Harward wanted to pick his own team.