White House says Trump won't fire national security adviser H.R. McMaster

Kim Hjelmgaard | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption National Security Adviser McMaster could be headed to the Pentagon Could another high profile member of the Trump administration be headed for the door? Veuer's Nick Cardona has that story.

The White House late Thursday disputed a report that President Trump has decided to oust his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster.

McMaster, a three star Army general, has faced criticism from Trump loyalists who believe his views on Iran, North Korea and other key foreign policy theaters are at odds with Trump's. The Washington Post reported Trump is "now comfortable" with removing McMaster, although his departure may not be imminent.

But White House press secretary Sarah Sanders pushed back on the suggestion that McMaster would be replaced, thus becoming the second national security adviser fired by Trump after Michael Flynn was dismissed for lying to the vice president and the FBI.

"Just spoke to @POTUS and Gen. H.R. McMaster - contrary to reports they have a good working relationship and there are no changes at the NSC," she tweeted.

Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday after a 14-month tenure, signaling that a shake-up at the top levels of his administration was not over.

Tillerson's removal comes ahead of expected denuclearization talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as a May 12 deadline set by the president when he will have to decide whether to re-impose U.S. sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of a 2015 nuclear deal. Some analysts have concluded Tillerson was fired because, unlike Trump, he was concerned about holding face-to-face negotiations with North Korea's unpredictable leader and was also in favor of keeping the Iran deal.

Mike Pompeo, Tillerson's successor, is more hawkish on North Korea and Iran.

A separate CBS News report, citing congressional and administration sources, said Friday that White House chief of staff John Kelly could also be on his way out.

More: White House departures: Who's been fired and who resigned

More: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ousted in favor of CIA chief

More: The Bubble: 'The White House is in total meltdown,' liberals say