National Security Council

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After White House Blames Trump on Afghan Exit, He Blasts 'Morons'

Two-year review acknowledges mistakes but blames Trump policies for limiting choices

(Newser) - The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan should have happened sooner, the White House concedes, though it also places much of the blame for the mess on the Trump administration. After a two-year review, the National Security Council concluded "President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from...

2 Trump Aides Who Resigned After Jan. 6 Expected at Next Hearing

Sources: Ex-NSC official Matthew Pottinger, ex-deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews to testify

(Newser) - An ex-National Security Council official and former White House comms official who served under former President Trump—both of whom resigned shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol—are said to be on the docket for Thursday's hearing on the matter. Sources tell CNN that Matthew...

Russian Troops Stay in Belarus Beyond Deadline
Russian Troops
Stay in Belarus 
Beyond Deadline
the rundown
Feb 20, 2022 3:45 PM CST

Russian Troops Stay in Belarus Beyond Deadline

US intelligence shows forces at Ukraine border have orders to invade

(Newser) - The Russia-Belarus military exercises that were scheduled to end Sunday didn't. Belarus announced that the drills would be extended and said a task force was being formed to "fight back if necessary." Western military analysts had predicted Russian troops wouldn't leave on schedule, despite promises by...

12 CIA Agents on 3 Continents Treated for 'Havana Syndrome'

That's just so far this year; total cases number more than 130: reports

(Newser) - More than 130 US personnel within the CIA, State Department, Defense Department, and other agencies have suffered ailments, including what could be permanent brain damage, as a result of mysterious incidents that began five years ago—far more than the 60 cases that have been publicly disclosed. That's according...

NSC Aide Is Out of White House After 'Anonymous' Rumors

Victoria Coates didn't write the book, agents said

(Newser) - A national security aide who's been rumored to be the author of a tell-all book about President Trump's White House is being moved out of it. Victoria Coates will begin her new job as a senior adviser for the Department of Energy on Monday, Reuters reports. White House...

Trump: Military Could Punish Vindman for Testimony

Security adviser claims brothers weren't fired

(Newser) - There were dueling messages on Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the White House on Tuesday, with President Trump suggesting the impeachment witness might be disciplined by the military and national security adviser Robert O'Brien insisting he had not been retaliated against—or even fired. Vindman, the National Security Council'...

White House May Boot Vindman From NSC
Vindman
Is Escorted
Out of the
White House
updated
Feb 7, 2020 3:40 PM CST

Vindman Is Escorted Out of the White House

Ukraine expert testified in Trump impeachment hearings

(Newser) - One of the most explosive testimonies during President Trump's impeachment hearings came from Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who listened in on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Now, Vindman's days as director for European affairs on the National Security Council are...

Former NSC Aide Didn't Think Quid Pro Quo on Ukraine Call Was Illegal

Tim Morrison, who just quit his post, testified for more than 8 hours

(Newser) - A former top White House official confirmed Thursday that military aid to Ukraine was held up by President Trump's demand for the ally to investigate Democrats and Joe Biden, but he testified he saw nothing illegal about the quid pro quo at the center of the impeachment inquiry. Tim...

White House Security Official to Deliver Damaging Testimony

Military officer says he reported concerns about Trump's Ukraine phone call

(Newser) - The White House's top Ukraine expert is due to testify before impeachment investigators Tuesday—and his testimony is expected to be some of the most damaging for President Trump so far. According to prepared testimony seen by Politico , Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the first current White House official...

Report: Pentagon Has Plan to Send 120K Troops to Middle East

Trump says Iran could have a 'bad problem'

(Newser) - Plans to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East to counter threats from Iran were unveiled at what appears to have been an exceptionally leaky meeting of national security aides last week, reports the New York Times , which cites more than half a dozen sources. The sources...

White House Aide Gone After Clash With First Lady

Melania's office called for Mira Ricardel firing

(Newser) - Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel was removed from her post Wednesday—the day after Melania Trump's office released a highly unusual statement calling for her firing . "Mira Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within...

Sessions Floats Controversial Idea to Catch Leakers

Axios reports he might require all NSC staffers to take lie detector tests

(Newser) - Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reportedly considering a controversial idea to catch White House leakers. Axios reports that Sessions has floated a proposal to make all 100 or so staffers at the National Security Council take a lie detector test. The purpose of the polygraph would be to figure out...

NYT: Bannon Threatened to Quit Over NSC Removal

His star may be fading, insiders say

(Newser) - The White House is insisting that Steve Bannon's removal from the National Security Council is not a demotion, but it was a move the strategist strongly resisted, according to the New York Times' sources. The insiders say that at one point, Bannon said he would quit if he were...

Steve Bannon No Longer on National Security Council
What Bannon's NSC Exit
May Mean for White House
the rundown
Apr 5, 2017 2:11 PM CDT

What Bannon's NSC Exit May Mean for White House

Trump chief strategist is out of post: business as usual or a shift in power?

(Newser) - President Trump generated controversy early in his presidency when he named chief strategist Steve Bannon to a key role on National Security Council. As of this week, Bannon no longer holds the post, reports Bloomberg . Some White House officials are insisting it's not a demotion, though Bannon's critics...

CIA Analyst: I'm Quitting Because of Trump
CIA Analyst: I'm Quitting
Because of Trump
OPINION
Feb 21, 2017 6:03 AM CST

CIA Analyst: I'm Quitting Because of Trump

He says administration is 'tuning out' intelligence

(Newser) - Veteran CIA agent Edward Price says he served under George W. Bush and Barack Obama with pride—but he "cannot in good faith" serve under President Trump. In an op-ed at the Washington Post , Price, an analyst who most recently worked as a spokesman for the National Security Council,...

NSC Official Fired for Anti-Trump Remarks

Sources say Craig Deare slammed Mexico policy

(Newser) - A senior Trump administration official was fired following criticism in a private speech of President Trump's policies and his inner circle of advisers. Craig Deare, whom Trump appointed a month ago to head the National Security Council's Western Hemisphere division, was on Friday escorted out of the Executive...

Flynn Steps Down Over Russia Controversy

He's out after 24 days as national security adviser

(Newser) - Michael Flynn has stepped down as national security adviser less than a month into the Trump administration. Flynn abruptly resigned Monday night after coming under increasing pressure over his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US while Trump was president-elect, CNN reports. "I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect...

Media Screwup on Trump Story Is a Troubling Sign

It shows how poisoned relations are with the White House

(Newser) - One of the many executive orders rolled out by President Trump involved changes at the National Security Council. The big development, accurately reported, is that Trump adviser Steve Bannon now has a regular role with the panel. But the media botched a second part of the order, writes Jackson Diehl...

National Security Council Restructured to Include Bannon

While roles of the DNI, chairman of the Joint Chiefs minimized

(Newser) - Amid President Trump's flurry of actions Saturday was some restructuring at the National Security Council. White House chief strategist Steve Bannon now has a permanent seat on the principals committee of the NSC, reports the Washington Post , which notes that "the changes affirm the ascent of Bannon" in...

US to North Korea: Let 85-Year-Old American Go

Merrill Newman has been held for more than a month

(Newser) - The US is urging North Korea to release an 85-year-old American who's been detained for more than a month. Retired finance executive Merrill Newman, who fought in the Korean War, was taken off a plane Oct. 26 by North Korean authorities while preparing to leave after a 10-day visit....

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