Former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, H.R. McMaster, stressed the need for a competent team surrounding Trump during a recent interview on CBS' "Face the Nation." McMaster pointed out that while Trump is capable of making sound decisions and disrupting foreign policy or national security matters, he often struggles to follow through on those decisions. According to McMaster, Trump can be easily manipulated, as individuals know how to leverage his vulnerabilities to maintain support from his political base.

McMaster, promoting his new book titled "At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House," described the atmosphere in the White House as "exercises in competitive sycophancy." In an excerpt published in the Wall Street Journal, he revealed how Russian President Vladimir Putin adeptly played on Trump's ego and insecurities through flattery. McMaster contemplated including this information in his book, believing that shedding light on Putin's strategies might make a future President Trump less susceptible to manipulation.

The notion that Trump projects strength and authority, giving him an advantage over his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in dealing with autocrats like Vladimir Putin, has been a consistent argument made by Trump and his allies. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) echoed this sentiment during a previous interview on "Face the Nation," claiming that world leaders would walk all over Harris if she were elected president.

During his interview with Margaret Brennan, McMaster revealed that he grappled with the decision to document Trump's relationship with Putin. Ultimately, he decided to include the details, believing that future President Trump, if elected, could benefit from understanding Putin's tactics. McMaster emphasized that every presidential administration faces attempts to manipulate the president, but with smart advice, Trump often made good decisions.

One of these decisions, in McMaster's view, was Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear treaty with Iran in 2018. McMaster cautioned that Iran poses a real threat, particularly with President Biden deviating from some of Trump's policies. McMaster highlighted Iran's willingness to prioritize its objective of destroying Israel, even at the expense of Arab, Palestinian, and Lebanese lives. McMaster expressed concern about the narrative of de-escalation and reluctance to confront Iran directly, asserting that it allows Iran to escalate on their own terms without facing consequences.

As McMaster continues to promote his book, he offers a firsthand account of the inner workings of the Trump White House and the challenges faced in navigating foreign policy and national security decisions. His insights shed light on the importance of having a competent team around Trump to counter manipulation, ensuring the execution of sound decisions in vital areas such as diplomacy and security matters.