Israel-born Oracle CEO said to be contender to replace McMaster
Report naming Safra Catz as a leading choice for next national security adviser comes amid speculation about incumbent’s future
Safra Catz, the Israeli-born co-CEO of tech giant Oracle, is considered a leading candidate to replace US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, CNN reported Friday.
The report naming Catz as a potential choice to be President Donald Trump’s next national security adviser comes amid speculation that McMaster is set to leave the administration — reports his spokesman denied on Thursday.
Catz, who was born in the Israeli city of Holon, was named as co-CEO of Oracle in 2014 upon founder Larry Ellison’s decision to step down as chief executive.
Following Trump’s election, Catz joined the Republican’s transition team, prompting a senior executive at Oracle to resign in protest.
She was later reportedly considered for the positions of US trade representative and the director of national intelligence in Trump’s cabinet.
Her name has previously come up in relation to efforts to remove McMaster from his position.
Sheldon Adelson, a prominent donor to Republicans and pro-Israel causes, expressed support to Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein in August regarding the group’s effort to push for McMaster’s removal, saying he was “enlightened” about McMaster after being told by Catz of a dinner she had had with the national security adviser.
Other names mentioned in the CNN report as replacement’s for McMaster are Stephen Biegun — a senior executive at US automaker Ford who previously worked in the George W. Bush White House and as national security adviser to former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, as well as John Bolton — a US ambassador to the UN under Bush and conservative commentator.
Agencies contributed to this report.
