Go-To

Trump's "Go-To" National Security Adviser Says He's Never Talked Policy With Trump

Did Trump fib about his top military advisers?

By David Corn

When Donald Trump, the reality show tycoon turned GOP front-runner, appeared on Meet the Press this past Sunday, host Chuck Todd asked him, "Who do you talk to for military advice right now?" At first, Trump had no direct answer. He replied, "Well, I watch the shows. I mean, I really see a lot of great—you know, when you watch your show and all of the other shows and you have the generals and you have certain people that you like." Todd pressed him: "But is there a go-to for you?" Trump said he had two or three "go-to" advisers. He named John Bolton, one of the most hawkish neoconservatives, and retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs, who is a military analyst for MSNBC and NBC News. "Col. Jack Jacobs is a good guy," Trump said. "And I see him on occasion."

There's just one problem with Trump citing Jacobs as a national security adviser: Jacobs says he has never talked to Trump about military policy.

"He may have said the first person who came to mind," Jacobs tells Mother Jones. "I know him. But I'm not a consultant. I'm not certain if he has a national security group of people. I don't know if he does or if he doesn't. If he does, I'm not one of them."

Jacobs, who received a Medal of Honor (and two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts) for his service in Vietnam, notes that he has attended numerous charity events where Trump was present. "I've seen him at a number of functions," he says. But Jacobs adds that he has had no discussions with Trump about national security affairs—at those events or anywhere else.

Jacobs says he assumes Trump has watched his appearances on television. But does Jacobs see his on-air comments reflected in what Trump has been saying as a candidate? "I talk about a wide variety of things on television," Jacobs remarks. "Who knows what anybody absorbs? But I'm delighted to hear that he's a fan of MSNBC."

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry about why Trump cited Jacobs as a military policy adviser.