US President Donald Trump listens to his newly announced White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien speak to reporters after he named O'Brien as his fourth national security adviser at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, US, September 18, 2019.
O’Brien is a lawyer from Los Angeles who co-founded a boutique law firm called Larson & O’Brien LLP. According toon the company website, “he represents individuals and companies in the entertainment, oil and gas, technology, finance and real estate industries” and serves as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, “coordinat the United States Government's diplomatic engagements on overseas hostage-related matters.
O’Brien worked with Bolton, then the ambassador, while at the UN. He has also worked for former secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, theTrump’s appointment of O’Brien to the role, which does not need to be approved by the Senate, may help sootheRepublican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that O’Brien “understands the world for the dangerous place it is. He’s got great negotiating skills as our hostage negotiator,” adding that “he’ll be a very sound policy advisor.
"All I have to say is that @robertcobrien is a really, really good person and that I wish him all the best in what will certainly be a challenging role," Exum tweeted. O’Brien and Trump, who has pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran , also see eye to eye on the Islamic Republic.