Trump names Robert O'Brien as new national security adviser

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named his point man for hostage situations, Robert O'Brien, to replace his hawkish national security adviser sacked last week.

"I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!" Trump tweeted.

I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O’Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, as our new National Security Advisor. I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2019

Last week, Trump abruptly fired John Bolton, a vigorous proponent of using US military force abroad and one of the main hawks in the administration on Iran.

Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities

O'Brien has until now served as Trump's envoy for situations involving US hostages abroad.

He comes into the new job with backing from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior Republicans in Congress.

Bolton, by contrast, was a highly controversial figure in Washington. His instincts for an aggressive, interventionist foreign policy were at odds with Trump's more isolationist stance.

Iran says there will be no Rouhani-Trump meeting at UN

Trump said that one reason he fired Bolton was because he "wasn't getting along with people in the administration who I consider very important" and "wasn't in line with what we were doing."
O'Brien will become the fourth national security adviser in Trump's tumultuous first term.