Washington, March 24 (RHC)-- John Bolton, U.S. President Donald Trump’s incoming hawkish national security adviser, is reportedly planning a massive dismissal of staff at the National Security Council, aiming to remove dozens of White House officials.  Sources aware of the changes told the Foreign Policy magazine that Bolton is preparing to “clean house” and remove nearly all of the political appointees brought in by his predecessor, H.R. McMaster.

McMaster had replaced Michael Flynn in February 2017 after he was forced to resign over contacts he had with the Russian government during Trump's presidential transition.  “Bolton can and will clean house,” one former White House official told Foreign Policy.  One other source said: “He is going to remove almost all the political [appointees] McMaster brought in.”  Another former official said that any National Security Council officials appointed under former President Barack Obama “should start packing their s**t.”

Trump announced McMaster's replacement on Thursday, making Bolton his third national security adviser since coming to office and continuing a shake-up that creates one of the most hawkish national security teams of any White House in recent history.

Bolton’s views have widely been described as neo-conservative and hawkish, and similar Trump.  Bolton, an outspoken advocate of military action who served in the administration of former U.S. president George W. Bush, has called for military action against Iran and North Korea.  While serving under former U,.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Bolton was also both a cheerleader and early architect of the Iraq war.