Two years ago, Trump, then the president-elect, surrounded himself with generals: National Security Advisor McMaster, Homeland Security Sec. Kelly (who soon became CoS) and SecDef Mattis. Only Mattis remains - and he has had problems w/Trump as well
One by one, Trump is weeding out those w/institutional knowledge and experience - and replacing them with assorted bootlickers who are less likely to tell him what he does not wish to hear. The President places a premium on servility while discounting experience and wisdom ##