From the beginning of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump, who demonstrated his geopolitical naivety at every turn, sent mixed messages on foreign policy. He appointed H.R. McMaster—a career militarist, consummate insider, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations—as his National Security adviser.

The nationalist and populist "Make America Great Again" crowd that voted Trump into office complained about this appointment, viewing McMaster as a deep state operative put into place after their hero, Michael Flynn, was forced out after admitting he talked with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and was subsequently prosecuted for lying to a highly politicalized FBI.