The White House on Thursday downplayed speculation that President Trump Donald John TrumpREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails Trump urges North Korea to denuclearize ahead of summit Venezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump MORE could be eyeing former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton for a position in his administration.

Bolton is scheduled to meet with Trump later Thursday, days after news reports surfaced the White House has a plan to force out Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonHeather Nauert withdraws her name from consideration for UN ambassador job Trump administration’s top European diplomat to resign in February Pompeo planning to meet with Pat Roberts amid 2020 Senate speculation MORE.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Bolton is simply “a friend of the president” and described the meeting as “nothing more than a check in and a friendly visit.”

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News reports last week indicated that the White House is looking to replace Tillerson, with whom Trump has frequently clashed, with CIA Director Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoVenezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump Five things to watch as Michael Cohen testifies The Hill's Morning Report - Dems appear to have votes to counter Trump on emergency MORE.

Bolton was considered for several high-ranking posts during the presidential transition but ultimately did not take a job.