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canetoad

(18,407 posts)
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 09:39 PM Sep 2024

Ever wondered why Trump likes dictators? This three-star general can tell you

*In his only interview with the Australian media, the former national security adviser talks about Donald Trump’s attempts at self-worth.

Donald Trump invited US Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster to Mar-a-Lago and asked him to serve as his national security adviser, then asked a question that exposed the stark divergence in their world views. “How much does a three-star general make?” the newly inaugurated president asked. It was 2017. “I don’t really know,” replied McMaster. “Every month my cheque goes to Katie,” his wife, “and whenever I use an ATM, it works.”

“Wow, you really are in this just for the service, aren’t you?” responded the president. Trump was “shocked”, McMaster tells me in an interview this week. “He’s a business guy. It’s just a whole different world.”

Their different worlds might have complemented each other in useful ways, but ultimately fated McMaster to a tenure of only 13 months in the post. Which, by Trump standards, verges on the longer side.

Trump White House spokesman Anthony Scaramucci lasted all of 11 days, and that became a unit of time measurement among Trump staff. McMaster can boast that he served for 41.3 Scaramuccis.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/ever-wondered-why-trump-likes-dictators-this-three-star-general-can-tell-you-20240927-p5ke0t.html

Archive: https://archive.md/EyKJj

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Ever wondered why Trump likes dictators? This three-star general can tell you (Original Post) canetoad Sep 2024 OP
"41.3 Scaramuccis." Dave Bowman Sep 2024 #1
Good read. Thanks for posting, canetoad. brer cat Sep 2024 #2
You're welcome bc canetoad Sep 2024 #3
I enjoyed your OP muchly ReRe Sep 2024 #4
Thank you canetoad Sep 2024 #5
Military salaries, plus benefits... COL Mustard Sep 2024 #8
I submit, Trump makes George W. Bush look inquisitive. nt Gore1FL Sep 2024 #9
I submit, they both SUCK though Skittles Sep 2024 #16
uhhhhhhh, you DO realize who we are discussing, yes? t#### "knew" niyad Sep 2024 #12
Good point COL Mustard Sep 2024 #13
It was rather late night, so can be overlooked this ONE time. niyad Sep 2024 #17
kind of an old-fashioned answer Skittles Sep 2024 #6
It's a little bit disingenuous too COL Mustard Sep 2024 #14
Cadet Bonespurs would know nothing about military pay Skittles Sep 2024 #15
Learned a new word! slightlv Sep 2024 #7
trump later commented that Gen. MacMaster wore ill-fitting suits... brush Sep 2024 #10
If you are going to consider the length markodochartaigh Sep 2024 #11
That's an interesting point canetoad Sep 2024 #18
LOL markodochartaigh Sep 2024 #19
Delighted to be of service canetoad Sep 2024 #20

ReRe

(10,969 posts)
4. I enjoyed your OP muchly
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 10:15 PM
Sep 2024

Got a real kick out of how Gen McMaster answered stupid's nosy question about his income. My husband would have answered the same words! Yep, that got several chuckles out of me. Hubby passed almost 8 yrs ago.

COL Mustard

(7,052 posts)
8. Military salaries, plus benefits...
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 11:02 PM
Sep 2024

Are public record. Anyone can find out how much any service member makes. Surely Trump knew this.

niyad

(121,193 posts)
12. uhhhhhhh, you DO realize who we are discussing, yes? t#### "knew"
Sat Sep 28, 2024, 12:04 AM
Sep 2024

something factual and real?

Skittles

(160,816 posts)
6. kind of an old-fashioned answer
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 10:26 PM
Sep 2024

I earned my own paycheck, never relied on a man after I became an adult......

COL Mustard

(7,052 posts)
14. It's a little bit disingenuous too
Sat Sep 28, 2024, 12:52 AM
Sep 2024

I’m sure the General probably did let his wife run the finances, but we know how much we make, broadly speaking.

slightlv

(4,645 posts)
7. Learned a new word!
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 10:40 PM
Sep 2024

recrudescence - recurrence of something undesirable - i.e., a 2nd trump term!

brush

(58,333 posts)
10. trump later commented that Gen. MacMaster wore ill-fitting suits...
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 11:28 PM
Sep 2024

as if he himself wore exquisitely tailored ones....those with the jackets hanging open to show his too-long, red tie that he thinks hides his big belly.

markodochartaigh

(2,221 posts)
11. If you are going to consider the length
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 11:28 PM
Sep 2024

of terms of Trump's staff, consider Secretary of the Treasury, Mnuchin, "The Foreclosure King", and Secretary of Commerce, Ross, "The Bankruptcy King". They both "served" from the beginning to the end of Trump's administration. Birds of a feather.

Why is this never mentioned? Do people really think that it is unimportant?

canetoad

(18,407 posts)
18. That's an interesting point
Sat Sep 28, 2024, 03:52 PM
Sep 2024

Perhaps those two, sincerely honest gentlemen decided to stay and rein in his worst excesses.

markodochartaigh

(2,221 posts)
19. LOL
Sat Sep 28, 2024, 04:24 PM
Sep 2024

Your sense of humor is so dry that, just two days after Hurricane Helene, when I clicked on your comment the relative humidity in my house dropped into the single digits.

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