White House aides planned to announce McMaster with other departures: report

President Trump’s announcement Thursday afternoon that he was replacing national security adviser H.R. McMaster with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton reportedly ruined White House aides’ plans to announce multiple administration departures at once. 

Politico reported that White House chief of staff John Kelly and other senior aides were waiting for potentially bruising inspector general reports on Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

The White House planned to then announce the departure of McMaster and other top aides at once, Politico reported.

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However, White House officials were caught off guard when Trump tweeted late Thursday afternoon that Bolton would replace McMaster, effective April 9.

Bolton, who was seen visiting the White House on Thursday, is slated to become Trump’s third national security adviser.

McMaster’s ouster is the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the Trump administration.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was pushed out last week, and top economic adviser Gary Cohn resigned earlier this month.

Shulkin is facing intense scrutiny following an inspector general report that found he misspent taxpayer money on lavish travel for himself and his wife.

Similarly, Carson has faced criticism after it was reported his department spent $31,000 on a dining set for his office. Carson returned the furniture and seemed to suggest his wife was to blame for the purchase.