policy? >> sir, the president. >> not some other staffer within the nsc process? >> it exists to make sure the president has the full array of options for his decision. >> thank you. i yield back. >> thank you, chairman. thank you, gentlemen, for your testimony today. is it correct to say both you gentlemen were either appointed or hired by the white house, by the trump administration? >> yes, sir. >> in my case by secretary tillerson. >> but part of the trump administration? >> yes. serving in the same administration. >> sure. ambassador volker, you previously testified that ambassador gordon sondland, quote, i just know that he had a relationship with president trump that i did not have. in fact, in one text message dated july 26, you wrote to ambassador sondland quote, great photo sondland can you get this to potus without intermediary.