President Donald Trump hit back at his former national security adviser H. R. McMaster after the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general said the president was being “played” by Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized his White House showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump hit out at McMaster on Truth Social late Sunday with a brief all-caps attack on his former ally:
H.R. MCMASTER IS A WEAK AND TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE LOSER!
He followed up with a call for Americans to focus more on domestic policy, specifically the border and immigration.
We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country – So that we don’t end up like Europe!
The furious jab followed an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, during which McMaster gave a blistering take on Trump’s explosive Oval Office meeting with Zelensky, which derailed peace negotiation progress.
“Vladimir Putin couldn’t be happier,” said McMaster, who was fired by Trump in 2018 and is now a CBS News contributor. “Because what he sees is all of the pressure on Zelensky, all of the pressure on Ukraine and no pressure on him.”
McMaster warned that Putin has long understood how to manipulate leaders, and claimed Trump is no exception.
“He appeals to President Trump’s sense of aggrievement,” McMaster said. “And he’s been very successful at it because he’s a master manipulator and one of the best liars in the world.”
