(2) Mike Flynn was targeted for destruction from Day 1, and Trump was boxed in by Senate GOP traitors into hiring Deep State scumbag McMaster, and could not lay a finger on the NSC.
From my distant view, I’ve always had respect for Priebus. He allowed the GOP nomination to play out in a fair way. I imagine the GOP establishment is very similar to the Democrat establishment, but had he behaved like Clinton crony Wasserman-Schultz, he would have rigged the process. Democrats are still today suffering from those decisions made in 2016.
Trump probably felt he could trust Priebus, and perhaps he could, but the corruption and opposition with the Intelligence Community, FBI, etc.. probably was beyond anyone’s comprehension in those early days, so I agree with you on point #2.
Preibus was a horror. He is the one who brought in Johnny DeStefano, who for years has made sure no MAGA hires made it into Trump’s largely corrupted admin. Yes, it is on Trump for having mismanaged hos hiring from the start and really amazing that he has accomplished what he has, given all the vipers he brought into his admin.
And Fortunately Trump booted finally DeStefano last year, though I don’t know whether his replacement was any better.