Cross former CIA Director David Petraeus off the list of candidates to be Gen. Michael Flynn's replacement as national security adviser, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Gen. Petraeus, like Bob Harward, wanted independence and control over the staff, potentially replacing those Gen. Flynn had hired, but President Donald Trump considered that a deal-breaker, sources told the Journal.

"It is dumb to demand Flynn's people go," an official told the paper. "Why are you creating embarrassment? If you make that a precondition, you are not a loyal soldier, and you don't deserve the job."

Petraeus, speaking Friday at the Munich Security Conference, alluded to the need for the adviser to pick his staff.

"Whoever it is that would agree to take that position certainly should do so with some very, very significant assurances that he or she would have authorities over the personnel of the organization, that there would be a commitment to a disciplined process and procedures," Petraeus said, per the Journal.

Acting National Security adviser Keith Kellogg, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Army strategist Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, and retired Army Gen. Ray Odierno remain the finalists for the suddenly available post, sources told the paper.

Only Kellogg's candidacy has been confirmed by President Trump via Twitter on Friday morning.

General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA - as are three others. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017



Earlier Friday evening, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, trumpeted Bolton to be Flynn's replacement.

"One person I think would be very, very strong is John Bolton," Sen. Cruz told CNN. "He's someone who understands the world. He understands the threats of radical Islamic terrorism."