Retired Lt. Gen. H.R.
McMaster in a new memoir describes the way Russian PresidentVladimir Putininfluenced former PresidentDonald Trumpduring his time in office.
Putin, a ruthless former KGB operator, played to Trumps ego and insecurities with flattery, McMaster writes.
Donald Trump chats with Vladimir Putin as they attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Nov. 11, 2017.MIkhail Klimentyev/SPUTNIK/AFP/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Trump was focused on aNew York Postheadline: Putin Heaps Praise on Trump, Pans U.S. Trump apparently wrote a note on the article and asked McMaster to send it to Putin.
He told the White House office of the staff secretary not to send it.
I am very thankful for the service of General H.R.
McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend, Trumppostedon X, formerly Twitter.
In 202o, he spoke out about Trumps refusal to assure a peaceful transition of power.
This is very disappointing and really this is something that our founders feared, McMastertold CNN.
We have to demand that our leaders restore confidence in our democratic principles and institutions and processes.
