President Donald Trump hinted Friday at possible replacements for his national security advisor, one day after a potential taker for Michael Flynn's key position turned it down.
Retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward decided against an offer to serve in the top position. He told The Associated Press it was "purely a personal issue," though some reports suggested he thought the White House was too chaotic.
Flynn resigned Monday following reports that he talked about sanctions against Russia with Russia's ambassador and misled Vice President Mike Pence about what was discussed. Trump said Thursday he "fired" Flynn "because of what he said to Mike Pence," not because of what he discussed on the calls.
Trump said Friday morning that acting advisor Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, is "very much in play" for the permanent position. He added that he is considering "three others," without naming them.
Trump is also mulling retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander, former CIA Director David Petraeus and former Marine Corps Gen. James Jones for the position, NBC News reported, citing a senior aide. It is not clear if those three people are the ones Trump referred to in his tweet.
Kellogg, 72, temporarily took over the position after Flynn's resignation. He served 36 years in the military, including in the Vietnam War.
Petraeus, a retired four-star general, could prove a controversial choice due to his admission that he shared classified information with his biographer Paula Broadwell while they had an extramarital affair.
Jones served as former President Barack Obama's first national security advisor.