John Bolton is on the shortlist to replace current National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, likely because Trump enjoys his commentary The Daily Beast: Trump is considering John Bolton as a replacement for H.R. McMaster as national security adviser. As reported by The Daily Beast, John Bolton has made President Donald Trump’s shortlist to replace National Security Adviser McMaster, even though Bolton differs from Trump on several key policy points. “The president is said to enjoy his commentary” on Fox News, explained The Daily Beast in a March 14 article: Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton also speaks with the president on occasion, and according to three sources familiar with Trump’s thinking, he is on the shortlist to replace National Security Adviser H.R.