US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to appoint Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, as the next national security adviser.
O’Brien is set to replace John Bolton, who last week announced he is leaving the White House. Trump said he fired Bolton. Bolton said he was resigning following disagreements about foreign affairs.
The post does not require Senate confirmation.
O’Brien, who currently leads the U.S. government’s diplomatic efforts on overseas hostage-related matters, recently traveled to Sweden for the ASAP Rocky trial. He has advocated for expanding the Navy, and he is a big proponent of countering China in the South China Sea.
Bolton’s replacement will be Trump’s fourth national security adviser in less than three years in office. No other president has had that many in their first term. Michael Flynn was fired from the position after just 24 days. Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster left in early 2018.