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Trump’s pick to replace Michael Flynn wants no part of the chaotic Trump White House

He reportedly called the gig a “shit sandwich.”

Credit: U.S. Department of Defense
Credit: U.S. Department of Defense

According to reports on Thursday evening, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward turned down an offer from Donald Trump to serve as National Security Adviser, and cited the ongoing chaos in the White House as the reason why.

A friend of Harward’s spoke with CNN and said the decorated military officer referred to the offer as a “shit sandwich.”

Trump sought to act quickly to find a permanent replacement for Flynn, who resigned on Monday after reports surfaced that he engaged in inappropriate communications with Russian officials during the transition and then lied about it to Vice President Mike Pence and possibly the FBI. Retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg was chosen to fill the vacancy on an interim basis.

According to CBS News, Harward declined the offer after the Trump administration made it clear he would not be allowed to bring aboard his own team to help staff the NSC. Earlier in the day, it was revealed that the White House ordered the firing of a senior official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development because he had written columns critical of Trump back in October.

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During a rambling, incoherent press conference earlier in the day, Trump referred to Harward, though not by name, telling the media, “I have somebody that I think will be outstanding for the position.”