Bolton is just another bold, Trump move

As a student of President Trump and his career, I have a hypothesis about the rationale for appointing not only John Bolton as his national security adviser, but other radical activists like Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Ryan Zinke to the Interior Department and Betsy DeVos to the Education Department. It takes into account that Trump is not ideologically driven. He’s been all over the political map in the past — with actions almost always more measured than his talk.

So why Bolton? Put yourself in Trump’s shoes. If you wanted change, wouldn’t it be more effective to restrain a committed activist than to try to build a fire under a more moderate leader? Trump exploits the publicity adverse reactions bring. In the book Crippled America, Trump acknowledged that he makes “outrageous statements” that would bring publicity. He would then use that publicity for his purposes. Frank T. Manheim, affiliate professor George Mason University

Arlington, Va.