In the high-stakes world of Washington politics, even the most mundane mishaps can quickly transform into newsworthy incidents. Such was the case in early March when a simple phone call error sparked a revealing moment that has since captured media attention across the country.
The Mistaken Call: What Happened
On March 3, H.R. McMaster, the retired Army lieutenant general who served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser during his first term, received an unexpected call on his personal cell phone. According to multiple sources who spoke with CBS News, McMaster was instructed by a White House operator to stand by for the president CBS News1.
The call began with Trump saying simply, "Henry..." – immediately revealing the miscommunication at hand. McMaster, whose full name is Herbert Raymond McMaster (he goes by H.R., not Henry), quickly realized the president had not intended to call him at all. Sources confirmed that Trump had actually been trying to reach South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster Mediaite2.
Upon realizing the mistake, McMaster reportedly responded, "Mr. President, this is H.R. McMaster." Trump's reaction was swift and unfiltered: "Why the f*** would I talk to H.R. McMaster?" before launching into what sources described as "a scathing critique of his former aide" CBS News1.
A Strained Relationship
The harsh reaction highlights the strained relationship between Trump and McMaster, which has deteriorated significantly since Trump fired McMaster in March 2018 after a 13-month tenure as national security adviser.
Just a day before the accidental call, on March 2, Trump had publicly criticized McMaster on social media, calling him "a weak and totally ineffective loser" The Daily Beast3. This came after McMaster had appeared on CBS's "60 Minutes" where he expressed skepticism about Trump's approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
McMaster, now a CBS News contributor, has been increasingly vocal about his time in the Trump administration through his recently published memoir, "At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House." In the book, he describes how Putin "played to Trump's ego and insecurities with flattery" and characterizes some Oval Office meetings during his tenure as "exercises in competitive sycophancy" The Guardian4.
White House Response
When asked about the incident, White House communications director Steven Cheung doubled down on criticism of the former national security adviser, stating in a statement: "H.R. McMaster has completely beclowned himself and his third-rate book, which is now sold in the bargain bin of the fiction section of a discount bookstore, is filled with lies in a futile attempt to rehabilitate his tattered reputation" CBS News1.
McMaster himself declined to comment on the incident.
Pattern of Communication Issues
This misdirected call is not an isolated incident but rather appears to be part of a broader pattern of communication missteps within the current administration. Just days after the McMaster call, another high-profile communication error occurred when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat containing top Trump national security advisers discussing sensitive military information regarding operations in Yemen CBS News1.
These incidents have raised concerns about operational security and communication protocols within the administration. Rep. Salud Carbajal noted in a statement regarding these communication issues that they represent "not a simple error but a troubling pattern of negligence" Carbajal.house.gov5.
McMaster's Post-White House Career
Since leaving the Trump administration, McMaster has cultivated a diverse portfolio of roles. He serves as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and joined CBS News as a foreign policy and national security contributor. His recent book has received considerable critical attention, with The New York Times describing it as "beautifully written and never dull" NYT6.
In addition to chronicling his time in the Trump White House, McMaster has continued to provide analysis on international affairs and national security matters through his media appearances and writing.
Broader Implications
While a misdirected phone call might seem trivial in isolation, analysts suggest it offers a window into the operational dynamics and interpersonal relationships that shape high-level decision-making in Washington.
The incident highlights the often fractious relationships between Trump and his former advisers, many of whom have gone on to critique their experiences working with him. It also raises questions about the administrative systems in place for managing presidential communications and securing sensitive information.
As the administration continues to tackle complex domestic and international challenges, these communication issues add another dimension to ongoing discussions about governance and operational security in the highest levels of government.
McMaster, for his part, continues to maintain a public presence as a foreign policy expert while navigating the aftermath of his tumultuous tenure in the Trump White House – a tenure that now includes an unexpected coda in the form of an accidental phone call that has offered a rare unguarded glimpse into presidential communication.
This blog post was compiled using reporting from multiple sources including CBS News, The Daily Beast, Mediaite, and others. All quotes and details have been attributed to their original sources.
