The National Security Council is a ¹cushy job inside the White House filled with bureaucratic analysts and people who are in place in an attempt to steer policy. Many of those detailed to the NSC represent the interests of the Silo agency from which they originate.
The National Security Council contains approximately 350 full-time employees. The National Security Advisor, now Marco Rubio, is in charge of the NSC. Secretary Marco Rubio just fired more than 100 of them. A few quotes from Axios are beautiful, and telling:
[…] “The NSC is the ultimate Deep State. It’s Marco vs. the Deep State. We’re gutting the Deep State,” the official said of the move, which will cut the NSC staff to about half of its current 350 members. “The right-sizing of the NSC is in line with its original purpose and the president’s vision,” Rubio told Axios in a statement. “The NSC will now be better positioned to collaborate with agencies.” [link]
WASHINGTON DC – The Trump administration has put more than 100 officials at the National Security Council at the White House on administrative leave on Friday as part of a restructuring under interim national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two US officials and another source familiar with the matter.
[…] An email from NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack went out around 4:20 p.m. informing those being dismissed they’d have 30 minutes to clean out their desks, according to an administration official. If they weren’t on campus, the email read, they could email an address and arrange a time to retrieve their stuff later and turn in devices.
The email subject line read: “Your return to home agency,” indicating that most of those affected were detailed to the NSC from other departments and agencies.
On Thursday, Rubio convened a meeting with principals, which raised speculation that it was about the re-organization, the official said. And on Friday at 3:45 p.m., shortly before the email went out, senior directors were summoned to a meeting with Rubio.
[…] Those put on leave include career officials, as well as political hires made during the Trump administration.
In recent weeks staffers were being re-interviewed by the Office of the Presidential Personnel as the reshaping of the office was taking place, sources said. One of the questions asked was what officials thought was the appropriate size of the NSC, one source said.
Staffed by foreign policy experts from across the US government, the NSC typically serves as a critical body for coordinating the president’s foreign policy agenda.
But under President Donald Trump, the NSC’s role has been diminished, with the overhaul expected to further reduce its importance in the White House. (read more)
Remember the Susan Rice Benghazi “talking points” about a YouTube video? Remember Tommy “Dude” Vietor? Remember Alexander Vindman? Yeah, all from the National Security Council.
To give you an expanded perspective on how the NSC operates, compared to what the institutional DC interests tell us about it, it’s worth remembering that Tom Donilon’s daughter was appointed to the NSC after college. lol
2022: Tom Donilon’s daughter, Sarah Donilon, who graduated college in 2019, now works on the White House National Security Council {link}
“Marco Rubio: 25% then / 70% now. Remarkably his confrontation with the Senate, with USAID, with VISAs, and calling Ukraine a “USA proxy war” were big jumps in the effectiveness and competency versus what was expected. Still watching for direct IC confrontation with his move to NatSec Advisor, but I totally understand why President Trump is supporting him with more authority.”

President Trump looks relaxed around Rubio. They have an easy kind of chemistry. Not so with JD. What this means for 28 is anybody’s guess.
JD is being given high visibility assignments with responsibilities that Cackles could have only dreamed of and Marco has them by definition of the job description. I suspect 47 and “Little” Marco have made up; his selection of S of S was a surprise to me and I’m gladdened to see that he’s removed some of my qualms about him and his Siamese Twin “bud” Mark Warner from the SSCI.
Trump likes competition and I don’t think that either one are not acceptable to Trump as a successor. Let the process unfold….we’re no longer letting our bench be defined by whose turn is next.
Trump respects that Marco was good competition in the 2016 primaries that he had to use some prime material (i.e. “Little Marco”) to bring him down. Despite the acrimony of the race, Marco did not turn into Ted Cruz or Chris Christie. That reflected well on him and set him up for the roles he is now filling. Whatever Marco ultimately wants, he realizes President Trump is the vehicle to get him there.
I don’t see it.
and you can tell and know this how? He let him take out Zelensky in the White House. The guy has been everywhere for the President.
Some people will never forgive or forget. Fortunately, Pres. Trump isn’t one of those people. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a cabinet & who knows who his VP would be.
“Not so with JD.”
Your mind is playing up.
JD is mature and seasoned.
Rubio knows what’s going on.
JD is the opposite.
Trump is piling on the responsibility to Rubio, not JD.
Rubio has a full plate:
– U.S. Secretary of State
– Acting U.S. National Security Advisor
– Acting Archivist of the U.S.
– Acting Administrator of USAID
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will become the first person other than Henry Kissinger to lead the State Department
and serve as national security adviser at the same time.
Rubio is delivering on results beyond silly snarky comments.
At this point, anyone could do that – JD does that well but that’s about it.
Maybe sizing Rubio up for the role of VP in the future?
Long time lurker here.
MAGA, IMO, only makes up a smaller percentage of the Conservative base. I personally know a bunch of traditional Conservatives who held their noses and voted for Harris – not because they like her – they don’t – but as a protest vote towards this brand of GOP.
I don’t see any of these people voting for Vance or Rubio, either.
Edit: I don’t think either can be trusted, too. Especially Rubio.
Rino’s voted for harris. NOT patriots!
There should be no forgiving any of those “conservatives” who voted for Harris.
(I kinda wish they had continued holding their noses for the past 6 months. )
They are frauds (NR types) and you are crazy gullible to think they are anything but.
Drop them off in the pool when you take your next # 2
I know no one who calls themselves a conservative who would ever vote for Kamala. That is not a protest vote that is a I hate America and I don’t mind looking stupid to show it, vote.
I agree 100%. No conservative would vote for her. Liberals don’t even like her!
😂 😂 😂 Oh, you’re serious. 🤣🤣🤣 that’s even funnier.
Yes, there are GOPe that are never trump, but they are no longer part of the Conservative Party. They SAY they are—but they are NOT.
They’ve lost influence and, more importantly, lost BEING INFLUENTIAL which is the hardest thing to take. It costs them MONEY—And when you are all about the money AND be purchased to spew your ignorance and lose that, you become bitter.
MAGA is the LARGER percent of the GOP—it’s just that the people at the top of the entrenched system are fighting it. And they have imbedded tools and a LOT of money. They are sabotaging elections and stealing them (against MAGA candidates) if they have to… It’s allow about power and money for them.
Any true conservative wouldn’t vote and hold their nose—they’d just sit out that election. Unless, a truly capable alternative was running—maybe like Tulsi was.
Better yet, he could be lining him up to be President.
JD just does the traditional stuff with no additional authority.
Trump doesn’t let tradition set him back if someone is effective.
Rubio ha a full plate:
– U.S. Secretary of State
– Acting U.S. National Security Advisor
– Acting Archivist of the U.S.
– Acting Administrator of USAID
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will become the first person other than Henry Kissinger,
to lead the State Department and serve as national security adviser at the same time.
…the first person other than Henry Kissinger…
I wonder if Marco will also live to be 100 years old…?
Pleasantly surprised and cautiously optimistic about Rubio.
Yet, I still remember how DeSantis was deliberately marketed and packaged as a MAGA Trojan Horse by letting him run wild in Florida.
Hopefully, this is not just history repeating itself.
DeSantis was marketed, but never really did anything meaningful to address the real issues. He went off on book/stealth presidential run and left Florida high and dry.
Say what you will, but Mr. Rubio is actually confronting the things President Trump appointed him to deal with on our behalf.
Maybe its a long con, but its leaving an awful lot of Deep Stater wreckage in the process.
If one wants to assign a negative view to Mr. Rubio’s actions; I would attribute “revenge.” He tried several times to get out of the Senate, but they apparently had something on him that kept him from being able to abandon his post on the SSCI.
Via some means, President Trump has freed Mr. Rubio of whatever had him shackled and so now he is probably not at all unhappy with this opportunity for payback against the Deep State.
…”Say what you will, but Mr. Rubio is actually confronting the things President Trump appointed him to deal with on our behalf. Maybe its a long con, but its leaving an awful lot of Deep Stater wreckage in the process.”….
Wise in the discernment this is!
I’m thinking Marco’s eyes were opened up quite a bit while serving on the SSCI and he didn’t like what he saw. It would explain the new and improved Marco 2.0.
IMO Marco was always a climber but how many ways did there used to be to get ahead in the GOP. If you had the guts and brain power you could stand out from the crowd by being ultra conservative but get no where, or you could choose the co-operate with those already in power to pave the way. I think he chose the later.
Being Sec of State for Trump allowed him to move into an important political job where he didn’t have to throw away his integrity to get the job. You can tell he relishes the role and not just for the power but because it’s something he can personally believe in. It’s like knowing your finally on the right side.
Obviously no one can predict if this is a permanent change.
It might just be that Rubio as SO has had a dose of reality as he meets with world figures all over.
Some of them are frauds and easily recognized as such.
There’s just so much a person can take before reality says “NO MORE BS”
He may have reached that stage.
DeSantis has not.
As Sundance has shown us in detail, the Billionaires of that Sea Island Group and Club for Growth (sic) controlled him, still control him (I guess) and WILL control him.
Governing Florida is akin to governing Canada. And DeSantis is as out of the loop now as Trudeau.
FAFO
Remember when the idea of a “Deep State” was slandered as “conspiracy theory”? The media doesn’t even try to hide it anymore.
Rubio has the effectiveness of someone who has deliberately burned his bridges and knew there is no going back so he is going to stay the course with Trump and even out-Trump Trump (Out caesaring Caesar is an old expression). People should stop worrying about Rubio.
100%
Waiting for Lawfare to sue over this decision, and some low level judge to put an injunction on the case, preventing the firing. This is becoming a habit.
Given current (and past) events, your concern is not unreasonable.
It’s a well-supported concern!
Trump knows that annointing his successor now only weakens his (Trump’s) authority day to day, as the staffs coalesce into loyalty camps for post ’28 position, and it also creates opportunities for the camps to start sabotaging one another. It’s inevitable and just human nature.
We already have enough silos without creating more prematurely and inevitably.
Astute point and I love your logo thingy. LLJ & LGM!
Trump’s spidey senses were at full throttle early in his first administration, even before being sworn in. and they got stronger his first year in 2017. Here’s a CBS report from January 2017 : https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-trump-cia-headquarters-speech-intel-officials-say-uncomfortable-worse-relations/
Marco Rubio sure has come a long, long way since the campaign days when President Trump was referring to him incessantly as “Little Marco.”
Marco Rubio is doing an excellent job so far, in every role he has been given.
He’s wearing so many different hats I was wondering how he could possibly fulfill all of these job duties and responsibilities but he’s been doing it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if President Trump appointed Marco Rubio to be the
Superintendent / Landscape Director of the White House grounds, in the event that President Trump decides, that he doesn’t particularly like the way the grass is being mowed currently.
:):):)
*** I’ve never been very astute when it comes to the placement of commas. If I feel that I’ve typed a run on sentence I just throw a few in here and there to break it up. So forgive me if you will. ***
I didn’t intend for my comment to go to you Phillard. My comment was intended to be a stand alone. Whoops.
Being a grammar nazi, “I feel your pain”, but commas do not correct a run-on sentence. I have a similar problem, but because I am often undisciplined, I just let it go; the reader is smart enough to figure it out.
You place an extra burden upon your reader then, when that extra burden should be upon you.
Just sayin’
FYI, your comma should go before your parentheses. 😉 I do appreciate your case in point. Comma, comma, …
Commas go inside the quotation mark. Just sayin’ 😁
A comma here, a comma there, pretty soon you’re talking serious grammar !
This stuff is great, but unfortunately it’s temporary.
Our electoral system is so corrupt and polluted that it’s inevitable that another socialist will “win” a presidential election, and then it’s all coming back.
Nothing is “inevitable.” According to President Trumps friend, Gary Player: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Why? Are you not working to make our elections transparent again? A whole lot of us are!
Only 200 more to go.
Rubio appears to be doing the right thing. Let’s pray that he’s removing the right people. I no longer have any animosity towards Rubio, but I remain skeptical.
What do you think of this X post?
https://x.com/ivan_8848/status/1926200238022205597
“MARCO RUBIO IS ACTIVELY SABOTAGING TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN—HERE’S HOW
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f1fa-1f1f8.svgThe Deep State’s Puppet: While Trump pushes to “end” the war in Ukraine, Marco Rubio is working BEHIND THE SCENES to ensure America stays trapped in FOREVER CONFLICT.
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f525.svgNEW INTEL EXPOSES RUBIO’S GAME:
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f538.svgRubio KNOWS that it is impossible to lift major sanctions on Russia’s energy and banking sectors. He’s doing everything possible to make sure that Congress won’t support Trump on this issue.
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f538.svgRubio is quietly backing Lindsey Graham’s bill to impose new sanctions against Russia—a move designed to BLOCK any diplomatic deal Trump negotiates.
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f4a3.svgTHE REAL AGENDA:
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f538.svgNeocons (led by Rubio & Graham) want NO PEACE DEAL—just endless war funding.
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f538.svgEurope is ALSO blocking Russia’s reintegration (SWIFT ban, secondary sanctions), making Rubio’s stance a direct attack on Trump’s leverage.
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f538.svgA source close to the State Dept revealed: “Rubio brings up sanctions daily—he’s pushing Graham’s bill because it has a veto-proof majority to KILL any reset with Moscow.””
Is any of this true?
Talk is cheap, especially from “…sources close to…”
Whenever you see “sources close to….” or “sources familiar with…” you can be 99% sure the post is utter BS.
“Critics say”
Note the address link origins.. I see an echo chamber opinion.. same writer many pseudo identities.. while I’m at it “anonymous sources”, “someone within” and “a source close to” .. Maybe I’m just being hopeful in faith
It would be very unwise to completely trust Rubio.
If I was running a Brutus Deep Shiv operation, the Rubio mission would be my go-to play.
Rubio has become Trump’s right hand man particularly regarding cutting the deep state tentacles And the continued attacks by the likes of VanHollen is only adding fuel to the fire.
Trust but verify lilMarco…..
According to Mark Helperin, it’s VanceRubio 2028
Things can change, but as of right now I would be happy with that.
When’s the last time the GOP had 2 strong young (Marco is relatively) America first Pres. candidates?
Never in my lifetime. That primary debate is going to be good.
Soy boy Beta David Hogg.says…Thic Ghetto Crockett should be their Nominee,
I say bring it 🤣 🤣 🤣
It just occured to me that perhaps Rubio was freed from the claws of IC by Trump, in a similar way to Trump freeing Un from China. I imagine the conversation “Marco, I know they got ya by the short and curlies. I can give you a chance to really do something, something bigly. I can let you get back at em, what do ya say?”
“Marco, you don’t know the power of the bright side!”
GO MARCO GO!!
This makes me so happy.
The rest of us have suffered under their bumbling, incompetent, weaponized, idiocy, with absolutely no recourse. They targeted anyone who spoke up. It’s way past time to start kicking people to the curb. And they sure as heck shouldn’t get a government retirement.
I see an activist judge’s TRO ruling in 3, 2, 1.
Under the 45-Admin, Michael Flynn was ousted just days after inauguration.
Then Indiana’s Dan Coats was installed by none other than the Pence bunch.
So when you see/hear Victoria Coats giving her 2-cents worth on some networks, understand whose wife she is.
Just thinking out loud.
I haven’t had time lately to read all the comments.
MAGA Fabulous!!
Well done, Marco!
This is the second biggest surprise of the last four months.
The biggest disappointment has been Patel and and Bongino claiming Epstein killed himself.
You can’t win them all.
“Today, I settled all family business.”
~ Marco Rubio
Again, I do not understand the excitement… The statute (50 U.S.C. § 3021 (b)) does not require the President to consult the NSC or seek its permission before acting. None! The NSC’s role is purely advisory, and the President retains full authority to accept, reject, or act independently of NSC recommendations. To be clear, the NSC does not have independent decision-making or enforcement powers.
The statute (50 U.S.C. § 3021 (a)) specifies only the statutory members of the NSC (see below). It does not prescribe (or limit) the number or identity of other personnel employed to support the NSC’s functions, i.e., staffing decisions, including the creation of the NSC staff and subordinate committees, fall within the President’s discretion and executive authority.
§ 3021. National Security Council
(a) Membership
The National Security Council shall consist of the following officers:
(1) The President, who shall be the Chairman,
(2) The Vice President;
(3) The Secretary of State;
(4) The Secretary of Defense; and
(5) The Secretary of Energy.
Other officials may attend or participate as directed by the President but are not statutory members, e.g. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of National Intelligence, National Security Advisor (not established by statute; serves at the discretion of the President).
So, again, the President may fire or reassign the NSC staff–all of them–and he is not bound by any policy proposal emanating from the NSC.
Unfortunately, because the NSC convenes senior officials from key departments and the President’s closest national security advisors, media coverage often emphasizes its central role in national security decision-making. This creates a false perception that the NSC collectively “runs” policy or that the President must defer to it. In fact, the President may ignore them completely.
Again, it is within the President’s authority to return the NSC to its statutory duties and to stop using it as a conduit. He can insist that all intelligence information from the agencies be channeled either directly to his natsec personal staff or to the cabinet members.
Let’s not pretend there are any special powers at play that prevented President Trump from doing the same.
Consequently, the fact that FBI’s Comey and other agencies were able to circumvent notifying the President directly by using NSC staffers aligned with their interests should be attributed to the first Trump administration’s incompetence and its lack of nuanced understanding of how the system actually functions. No mystery here…
I am starting to think Trump is the one that rigged the election for him to lose in 2020.