After the issue surrounding Flynn and his resignation, Trump needs another National Security Adviser, and he needs him fast. Therefore, he holds interviews and the first interviewee is Army Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster (Woodward 85). Bannon has given McMaster a few tips that will help him in the interview. However, McMaster comes off as ignorant and Trump does not like him at all. The second candidate is a far-right former U.N. ambassador John Bolton. Bolton conducts the interview well, but Trump is phased by something non-political, his bushy mustache (Woodward 86). Lieutenant General Robert Caslen comes in next and he keeps his answers short. Trump seems to like Caslen and he keeps the interview friendly. Later, Kushner notes that the media like McMaster but Bannon affirms that Trump has more chemistry with Caslen (Woodward 86). Therefore, the two decide to give McMaster and Bolton another chance for an interview and to invite Caslen for a one-on-one lunch in the White House.

The next day, Bolton and McMaster come in. McMaster is in uniform this time just as Bannon advised. The interviews go on well and to Bannon’s surprise, Trump wants to make the decision right away without much consideration. Trump needs to silence the media’s constant repetition of the Flynn story and present a new story that they can run with. Trump therefore settles on McMaster as he has experience and the media already likes him (Woodward 87).