CENTCOM President Donald Trump offered the job of national security adviser to Robert Harward on Monday night, but, to Trump's surprise, the retired admiral told him he'd need a few days to "think it over," according to a report published Wednesday from Tom Ricks at Foreign Policy.

Two White House officials confirmed to The Washington Post that Harward was at the top of Trump's three-person short list to replace Michael Flynn, who abruptly resigned from the role after it became public that he had discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the US before Trump's inauguration. Flynn reportedly urged the ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, not to overreact to the latest round of sanctions imposed by the Obama administration, indicating that incoming administration might be more inclined to roll them back.

Harward, a former Navy SEAL commander who rose to deputy commander of US Central Command before retiring in 2013, would most likely bring in his own staff for a "housecleaning" of the National Security Council, according to Ricks.

If he accepts the role, Harward would be a close ally of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whom he served under at Central Command. He also has NSC experience, having served on the council during the George W. Bush administration.