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China says the tirades of US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien ‘are full of Cold War mentality’ in a bid ‘to seek the selfish interests of the US’ China accused US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien of fueling tensions in the region Monday, November 23, as the American official capped his recent trips to Vietnam and the Philippines. Chinese officials slammed O’Brien, in particular, for making “unreasonable remarks” on the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – hot button issues for Beijing as it competes with Washington for dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. It was in the Philippines, America’s...

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's National Security Council is preparing for "a very professional transition," because it looks like Joe Biden has won the election, national security adviser Robert O'Brien said in comments that aired Monday. His remarks stood in stark contrast to those of the president, who tweeted falsely just before midnight Sunday, "I WON THE ELECTION," as he continued to make baseless claims of widespread fraud. Twitter put a warning label on the tweet, noting that "official sources have called this election differently." The president's top security official, known as a Trump loyalist, offered a different view....

Jerusalem (AFP) — An Israeli-American delegation will fly on the first commercial flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates on Monday after a landmark deal between the countries, officials said Friday. “An official Israeli delegation will go to Abu Dhabi on a direct El Al flight for the first time ever,” a spokesman for Israel’s national carrier said, noting the flight from Tel Aviv was set for Monday. Jared Kushner, top aide and son-in-law to US President Donald Trump, has confirmed he will be on the flight, alongside National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien.

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Sunday that the only two people who opposed the historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates were the ayatollah of Iran and former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes. "I think getting out of the JCPOA was the predicate for this fantastic deal between UAE and Israel," he said on Meet the Press. "I never thought I would see President Trump being endorsed by Thomas Friedman on this deal and David Ignatius and others. I think the only people who were against the deal were the ayatollah and maybe Ben Rhodes." While the deal...

Speaking during the White House press briefing Monday afternoon, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien called for President Trump to receive the Nobel Peace prize after brokering a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emerites.  "What I have said is the President is often known as the greatest deal maker. He wrote the book 'The Art of the Deal.' He's considered a great great deal maker, which he is, but I think history is going to remember the President for being a great peacemaker. He brought peace to Israel and the UAE. His diplomats signed a historic accord in...

We are deeply troubled by the arrest of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong businessman, publisher, and prominent pro-democracy advocate. Two of Jimmy’s sons and several executives from his media company have also been arrested by Hong Kong authorities under the auspices of the national security law imposed by the Chinese Communist Party. Jimmy and his colleagues are powerful voices for the fundamental rights and liberties that Beijing guaranteed to the people of Hong Kong, but that it now systematically attacks. As a newspaperman, entrepreneur, and citizen, Jimmy Lai has exercised, celebrated, and defended liberty by warning what Hong Kong would...

The Trump administration waded even deeper into the Libya conflict this week, backing UN calls for a cease-fire amid the many factions, and signaling again that the country's oil fields are off limits to those seeking to profit on the war. The US initiative is well timed, with signs of an escalation of fighting between the Libyan Government of National Accord, which is recognized by the UN and backed by Turkey, and the insurgent forces of former general Khalifa Hifter, who has the support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and France. Libya's also become the world's most dangerous...

The United States is deeply troubled by the escalating conflict in Libya.  We strongly oppose foreign military involvement, including the use of mercenaries and private military contractors, by all sides.  The ongoing efforts of foreign powers to exploit the conflict – for example, by establishing an enduring military presence or exerting control over resources that belong to the Libyan people – pose grave threats to regional stability and global commerce.  Furthermore, these efforts undermine the collective security interests of the United States and our allies and partners in the Mediterranean region.  Escalation will only deepen and prolong the conflict.Over...

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Wednesday that he was "surprised" after The New York Times and The Associated Press published explosive reports alleging that President Trump and his top officials had been aware of classified intelligence indicating that Russia was offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of American soldiers. In an interview on "Fox & Friends" with hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade, O'Brien called the events that have unfolded since the reports were released "an unfortunate story." "Number one, no one is more concerned about the safety of America and the security of our...

As many as five plagues have come out of China in the last 20 years and at some point it has to stop, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien has said, holding the country responsible for the origin of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed over 2,50,000 people globally. People across the globe are going to rise up and tell the Chinese government that “we can no longer have these plagues coming out of China”, whether it is from labs or wet markets, neither one is a good answer, he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. We know...

Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key position in his Administration:Roger D. Carstens of Virginia, to be the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.Roger D. Carstens is currently a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State, where he oversees the Bureau’s work in Near Eastern Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, and the Office of Security and Human Rights.  Mr. Carstens previously worked overseas with international NGOs in Somalia and Jordan, where he provided humanitarian assistance and stability support to Syrian refugees and...

The top election security official for the intelligence community, Shelby Pierson, reportedly misled members of the House Intelligence Committee during a briefing on Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2020 election, with the goal of helping President Donald Trump, according to three national security officials familiar with the matter as well as National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien. Pierson reportedly told lawmakers that Russia was interfering in the 2020 election with the aim of helping President Trump win re-election, despite no evidence suggesting that was Russia's intention. Concerns over the lack of evidence backing Pierson's claim were raised in response to...

Former national security adviser John Bolton was advised to purge potentially biased holdovers from the Obama administration from the Trump White House, according to a top Republican in Congress. House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes said on Thursday that he warned Bolton, whom Democrats want to testify in the Senate impeachment trial against President Trump, of an anti-Trump spying operation by members of the National Security Council. The California congressman also said he told H.R. McMaster, who preceded Bolton, and Robert O'Brien, the current national security adviser, to take steps to cull what he called a "den of thieves."...

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he does not care if Iran agrees to negotiate with the United States. The comments came after his National Security Adviser, Robert O’Brien, suggested Iran would have no choice but to agree to talks. O’Brien, an interview with Fox News, said the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure campaign” was working, adding, “Iran is being choked off, and Iran is going to have no other choice but to come to the table.” In a Twitter post later on Sunday, Trump cited O’Brien’s interview and replied, “Actually, I couldn’t care less if they negotiate. Will be...

The Pensacola attack that killed three US sailors and wounded eight others including two members of law enforcement is still not being called an "act of terrorism" by either President Trump or Defense Secretary Mark Esper. US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien also not flat out saying there was a terrorist attack but telling CBS..... The attack was called an "act of terrorism" by local Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz.... Information is leaking out of the investigation of the attack now firmly in the hand of the FBI. The FBI is saying it is operating: "with the presumption that this was...

The U.S. President Donald Trump did not oppose a deal struck between the Syrian Kurdish-led forces, Russia and the Syrian government in Damascus to protect against a Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria, the commander of the force said as his fighters battled a new push by Ankara-backed fighters to seize a strategic border town. The commander of the Kurdish-led forces, Mazloum Abdi, said Trump essentially gave the go-ahead for the deal in a phone call Monday. The Kurds’ deal, announced Sunday, came after Trump ordered U.S. troops to step aside as Turkey launched its attack last week. Under the agreement,...

President Trump has played this out perfectly. By isolating Turkish President Recep Erdogan, and effectively leaving him naked to an alliance of his enemies, Erdogan is now urgently asking for the U.S. to mediate peace negotiations with Kurdish forces. This request happens immediately after President Trump signed an executive order [See Here] triggering the sanction authority of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Erdogan called the White House requesting an urgent phone call with President Trump. After President Trump talked to Kurdish General Mazloum Kobani Abdi, the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, President Trump then discussed the options available to...

On Friday, a source told Fox News that a National Security Council (NSC) staffer had spoken about Trump’s July 25th phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “multiple” people outside of the NSC, and had characterized the call as “outrageous.” This occurred before the whistleblower’s complaint had been submitted. This development had been reported to then-senior National Security Council (NSC) leadership. According to Fox: The development comes as Fiona Hill, a former special assistant to the president who worked on European and Russian affairs, is set to give a deposition next week. Fox News has reached out to Hill...

U.S. President Donald Trump picked U.S. hostage negotiator Robert O’Brien on Wednesday as his fourth White House national security adviser, turning to a low-key choice for the position after the boisterous tenure of John Bolton.

LOS ANGELES — President Trump on Wednesday announced he intends to name the administration's envoy for hostage negotiations, Robert O'Brien, as his next national security adviser. "I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!" Trump tweeted. I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O’Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, as our new National Security Advisor. I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2019 O'Brien will...