Ex-NSA adviser HR McMaster claims Donald Trump can be manipulated through flattery

WASHINGTON, DC: Former national security adviser HR McMaster claimed that former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee, is susceptible to manipulation and requires a "competent team around him," during his appearance on the August 25 episode of CBS's 'Face the Nation.'

According to Politico, McMaster appeared on the show to promote his new book, 'At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House.'

In the book, he describes meetings at the Trump White House as "exercises in competitive sycophancy" and reveals how Russian President Vladimir Putin, a "ruthless former KGB operator," used flattery to exploit Trump's ego and insecurities.

HR McMaster's comments on Donald Trump at CBS

Speaking with network host Margaret Brennan, HR McMaster acknowledged that while Trump "can make really sound decisions and disrupt things that need to be disrupted in terms of foreign policy and national security," he often struggles to maintain and see those decisions through.

“People know kind of how to push his buttons, especially buttons associated with maintaining the complete support of his political base," he shared.

McMaster expressed doubt about whether to disclose details of Putin's interactions with Trump, saying, "I struggled, Margaret, should I write about how Putin tried to manipulate President Trump, or not?"

"And I thought, well, Putin knows how he was trying to do it. So maybe in writing about how Putin was trying to press Donald Trump’s buttons, that will make a future President Trump, if he’s elected, less susceptible to those kinds of tactics," he added.

He noted that it's common to have individuals in every administration attempting to manipulate the President. However, he added that if given smart advice, Trump had the ability to make the right decisions.

Internet riles up over HR McMaster's comments

Netizens' reactions to the former Trump aide's comments were divided along party lines. Democrats argued that Trump's susceptibility to manipulation was already well known, while Republicans countered that similar effects could be achieved with money rather than flattery in the case of Democrats.

"No! Who would have guessed! (Starting with Putin, Xi, and Kim of N Korea.)" tweeted a user.

"Biden can be manipulated with an ice cream cone, that’s how we got into the freaking mess we are in a**hats," slammed another.

"Tell us something we don't already know," jibed a third.

"All democrats are manipulated by money so who cares?" chided a user.

"Tell Trump he is the most good looking, and the smartest. He will do anything you want him too," mocked another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.