A foreign foreign policy?

D

onald Trump is guiding the foreign policy of the most powerful country on Earth. The tapping of hawkish John Bolton as his third national security adviser in 14 months forces the question: What does the “America First” President really believe?

As a candidate, Trump called the Iraq War a “disaster” and pledged to keep the U.S. out of the types of entanglements into which foreign policy elites, for whom he showed complete contempt, have often dragged us.

“We have done a tremendous disservice not only to the Middle East — we’ve done a tremendous disservice to humanity,” he said.

Of the Bush administration officials who misled the nation into war on the ground that Saddam Hussein harbored weapons of mass destruction, he said with stunning bluntness: “I want to tell you — they lied.”

Bolton was one of the prominent officials who, 15 years ago, led the charge to invade Iraq.

“We are confident that Saddam Hussein has hidden weapons of mass destruction and production facilities in Iraq,” Bolton said before the war began. “The Iraqi people would be unique in history if they didn’t welcome the overthrow of this dictatorial regime.”

To this day, knowing everything we know now, Bolton stands by the decision to topple Hussein.

As President, Trump has veered wildly on how to push North Korea’s Kim Jong Un toward denuclearization. But of late, he has settled, with great fanfare, on a strategy of engaging in face-to-face negotiations with the totalitarian dictator.

It carries profound risks — risks Bolton himself has clearly articulated.

In a 2013 Op-Ed in this newspaper in 2013, he wrote, “North Korea has repeatedly welcomed prominent Americans to help elevate its stature. It is seeking direct negotiations with Washington, for in the distorted vision of the nation’s leadership, this might lead to full diplomatic recognition and ‘equal’ status in the world community.”

Recently, and chillingly, Bolton made the legal case for preemptively striking North Korea.

As President, Trump has made it a mission, in fact an obsession, to smooth over conflicts with Russia. He has been dismissive of facts about Russia’s election meddling; hesitant to impose sanctions punishing that meddling; eager to work together in Syria; and nothing short of fawning toward Vladimir Putin.

Over many years, Bolton has urged a far sterner approach. In February, he called for a “decidedly disproportionate” cyberattack on the Kremlin.

Bolton is just an adviser. It is idiosyncratic, transactional, impetuous Donald Trump who is responsible for making all the crucial final calls.

But Bolton will be whispering, loudly, in his ear. Prepare for cognitive dissonance galore.