5 Reasons H.R. McMaster Is the Right Leader for a Tough President

COMMENTARY Homeland Security

5 Reasons H.R. McMaster Is the Right Leader for a Tough President

Aug 3, 2017 2 min read

Commentary By

James Jay Carafano @JJCarafano

Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow

Walter Lohman @WalterLohman

Former Director, Asian Studies Center

Thomas Spoehr @TomSpoehr

Former Director, Center for National Defense

Luke Coffey @LukeDCoffey

Former Director, Allison Center for Foreign Policy

David R. Shedd

Former Visiting Fellow

H.R. McMaster was installed as President Donald Trump's national security advisor on Feb. 20. Dennis Brack/Newscom

Key Takeaways

A president is ill served by yes men, and the country is ill served by a president who doesn’t demand the very best for the American people.

McMaster is someone who can make the tough calls.

The finest steel comes from the hottest fire.

For months, there have been reports of strong disagreements in the White House.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In our view, that’s often the best way tough decisions get made.

In National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, the president has a leader of the National Security Council who has made a career of fighting for national security interests that involve very real sacrifice.

McMaster is someone who can make the tough calls. He is the right leader for a tough, determined president who only wants the best for the American people.

Here are five reasons why we think the president is already on the right track with his team.

1. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. 

What’s wrong with demanding winning policies and not accepting anything less? Grit and resolve were elements of character that used to be admired in Washington.

The recently released film “Dunkirk” resonated with many Americans for a reason. It’s not just fine filmmaking. It is reflection of what we see in ourselves—the strength and resilience to persevere.

McMaster gets that. Throughout his career, he has worked for leaders who demanded more—and he delivered. He will do so for this president.

2. Politics end at the water’s edge.

If anything has plagued White House’s national security and foreign policy decision making over the last eight years, it’s that tough decisions got filtered through a political lens that put politics before the needs of the nation.

In the toughest times, the toughest presidents—Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan—never did that.

Likewise, the instincts of President Donald Trump’s team are to put the nation’s needs ahead of politics. Such instincts are the glue that helps hold this National Security Council staff together.

McMaster shares their instincts, and that is how he leads his staff.

3. There is war to be won. 

America is at war with al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and ISIS. It faces daunting challenges from Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and transnational criminal networks.

It’s time to settle on a team and get on with the business of winning. Now is not the time to make big changes in the national security and foreign policy team.

4. Count on character.

When it comes to national security, Trump’s Cabinet officials—as well as his vice president, chief of staff, director of national intelligence, CIA director, new FBI director, and senior officials at the National Security Council—all share a core of character, competence, and the capacity for critical thinking and decision making.

These are the essence of strategic leadership. They are the building blocks of a great team of leaders. No one exemplifies those traits more than McMaster.

5. Leadership is a team sport. 

What makes a foreign policy and national security team great is the capacity to work together in trust and confidence—regardless of the degree of difficulty or disagreements. McMaster is a team builder, not a divider or splitter.

There should be tough, tense moments in the White House. A president is ill served by yes men, and the country is ill served by a president who doesn’t demand the very best for the American people.

The finest steel comes from the hottest fire. The president and his team have an opportunity to prove this axiom is as valid as ever.

The White House needs to deliver a solid, actionable plan in Afghanistan that leaves no quarter of ISIS and al-Qaeda; that shows Russia, Iran, Pakistan, India, and the Taliban that we are winners, not quitters; and honors the sacrifices made by our military after 9/11.

We need a team that will consistently show resolve in the face of Russian aggression, patience and determination in the Middle East, support for allies in Europe and Latin America, and staying power in Asia.

In these tasks, the president will find no more a selfless servant than H.R. McMaster.

This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal