Just over a month ago, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster received a surprising and unintended phone call from someone he likely didn’t expect to hear from again former President Donald Trump.
The unexpected interaction, first reported by CBS News, unfolded on March 3, when a call came through to McMaster’s personal cell phone. On the other end of the line was a White House staffer, who informed the retired general to “stand by for the president.” Moments later, Trump himself came on the line.
The moment was jarring not just because of the strained history between the two men Trump had just insulted McMaster on social media the day before but also because Trump never intended to speak to H.R. McMaster in the first place.
Wrong McMaster
According to four sources familiar with the incident, the call was meant for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, not Herbert Raymond “H.R.” McMaster, the retired general who had once served as Trump’s National Security Adviser during his first term.
Trump apparently began the conversation with a warm, if slightly confused, “Henry…” prompting McMaster to interrupt and clarify:
“Mr. President, this is H.R. McMaster,” the retired general responded.
The confusion immediately turned awkward. Trump, reportedly caught off guard, responded sharply:
“Why the f*** would I talk to H.R. McMaster?”
What followed, according to CBS’s sources, was a brief and scathing critique of McMaster’s performance as National Security Adviser—an appointment that ended in Trump ousting him just 13 months into the role.
History of Tension
McMaster’s strained relationship with Trump is no secret. A highly decorated military strategist, McMaster served as National Security Adviser from February 2017 to April 2018, during a particularly chaotic period in the Trump White House. Though respected for his military service, he often clashed with the president over policy and personnel decisions.
In recent years, McMaster has become increasingly vocal about his concerns regarding Trump’s foreign policy—particularly his handling of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
Just days before the mistaken call, McMaster appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes, where he questioned Trump’s overtures to Putin and suggested the Russian leader had “played to Trump’s ego and insecurities with flattery.”
On March 2, the day before the phone call, Trump took to social media to blast McMaster as a “weak and totally ineffective loser.”
Who Made the Call?
While the incident was quickly brushed aside by the former president, the mix-up raised questions inside Trump’s orbit. According to a source familiar with the exchange, the call was placed by an aide working within Trump’s communications or scheduling team.
The White House declined to offer any specifics about the incident. In a statement, communications director Steven Cheung instead took the opportunity to launch a verbal attack on McMaster:
“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.”
McMaster, who now serves as a CBS News contributor, declined to comment on the episode.
A Memoir and a Message
The harsh reaction from Trump’s team is not surprising given McMaster’s recent public remarks and the publication of his memoir, At War with Ourselves, which is deeply critical of Trump’s interactions with adversarial leaders like Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un.
In the book, McMaster argues that Trump’s susceptibility to flattery from authoritarian figures undermined U.S. foreign policy and national security. He has also accused the former president of placing personal loyalty over professional expertise, contributing to dysfunction inside the administration.
Another Digital Mishap
Interestingly, this accidental phone call was not the only communications blunder involving the Trump team in early March. A few days after the McMaster call, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was reportedly added by mistake to a group chat involving top Trump-era national security officials.
The group reportedly discussed sensitive information related to U.S. military operations in Yemen, raising concerns about data security and professionalism within Trump’s advisory circles.
Current National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was part of that chat, later acknowledged the error and said he “takes full responsibility” for the mishap.
Implications of the Mix-Up
While the mistaken phone call may seem like a humorous footnote in Trump-era politics, it also underscores deeper themes about organization, loyalty, and leadership. For critics, it serves as yet another example of internal chaos and lack of protocol in Trump’s political machinery.
It also speaks volumes about the personal animosities that continue to define Trump’s post-presidential interactions. While Trump maintains strong loyalty from some former officials, many—including McMaster, John Bolton, and James Mattis—have distanced themselves and become vocal critics.
McMaster’s Continued Role
Though he has stepped away from government, H.R. McMaster remains active in policy discussions and academic circles. As a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and a regular media contributor, he continues to write and speak on national security, military strategy, and democratic resilience.
His criticisms of Trump have gained renewed attention as the former president ramps up his 2026 political activities and possibly eyes another presidential bid.
Conclusion: A Mistaken Call With Symbolic Weight
The mistaken call between Trump and H.R. McMaster may have lasted only a few minutes, but it reflected much deeper divisions—between duty and drama, professionalism and politics, and military discipline and impulsive leadership.
It may have been an accident, but in the fraught world of Trump-era politics, even wrong numbers make headlines—and sometimes, they speak volumes.
