President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE’s announcement Thursday afternoon that he was replacing national security adviser H.R. McMaster with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton reportedly ruined White House aides' plans to announce multiple administration departures at once.

Politico reported that White House chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE and other senior aides were waiting for potentially bruising inspector general reports on Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin David Jonathon ShulkinVA inspector general says former top official steered M contract to friend Schumer demands answers in use of unproven coronavirus drug on veterans Former Trump VA secretary says staffer found plans to replace him in department copier MORE and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonBiden cannot keep letting Trump set the agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech Five takeaways on GOP's norm-breaking convention MORE.

The White House planned to then announce the departure of McMaster and other top aides at once, Politico reported.

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However, White House officials were caught off guard when Trump tweeted late Thursday afternoon that Bolton would replace McMaster, effective April 9.

Bolton, who was seen visiting the White House on Thursday, is slated to become Trump's third national security adviser.

McMaster's ouster is the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the Trump administration.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE was pushed out last week, and top economic adviser Gary Cohn Gary David CohnGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Former national economic council director: I agree with 50 percent of House Democrats' HEROES Act MORE resigned earlier this month.

Shulkin is facing intense scrutiny following an inspector general report that found he misspent taxpayer money on lavish travel for himself and his wife.

Similarly, Carson has faced criticism after it was reported his department spent $31,000 on a dining set for his office. Carson returned the furniture and seemed to suggest his wife was to blame for the purchase.