Trump: I fired Bolton over ‘disagreements’
North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran disagreements behind president losing his third security adviser
Donald Trump fired John Bolton, his national security adviser, because of “strong” disagreements, saying on Twitter that “his services are no longer required”, after the pair clashed over Afghanistan. Mr Bolton had opposed a plan to invite the Taliban to Camp David for peace talks, a move that was later scrapped. Mr Bolton reportedly objected to Mr Trump meeting Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president, and was sceptical that North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons.
‘He should have people he trusts and values and whose efforts and judgments benefit him in delivering American foreign policy’
DONALD TRUMP yesterday fired John Bolton, his national security adviser, citing in a tweet “strong” disagreements with his proposals.
The pair had clashed over Afghan policy, with Mr Bolton opposing a plan – later scrapped – to invite the Taliban to Camp David for peace talks. Mr Bolton also reportedly objected to Mr Trump meeting Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, and was sceptical North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons.
The president broke the news on Twitter, writing: “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.”
But Mr Bolton swiftly offered a different version of events, tweeting: “I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, ‘Let’s talk about it tomorrow’.” He doubled down on his insistence that he resigned according to a text message he sent to a reporter at The Washington Post. It read: “Let’s be clear, I resigned, having offered to do so last night. I will have my say in due course. But I have given you the facts on the resignation. My sole concern is US national security.”
His departure means Mr Trump is now looking for a fourth White House national security adviser in under three years. The president said a replacement would be announced next week.
Mr Bolton, 70, took the job in April 2018 with a reputation as a renowned foreign policy hawk, having served as George W Bush’s UN ambassador. In recent months there had been widespread speculation that his opposition to many of Mr Trump’s foreign policy instincts and willingness to voice them had begun to frustrate the president.
Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, who is close to Mr Trump and was also said to have frequently clashed with Mr Bolton, did little to hide their differences yesterday. “The president is entitled to the staff he wants, at any moment,” Mr Pompeo said at a briefing in the White House which Mr Bolton was also meant to have attended. “He should have people that he trusts and values and whose efforts and judgments benefit him in delivering American foreign policy.”
Asked if he had clashed with Mr Bolton, Mr Pompeo said: “There were many times Ambassador Bolton and I disagreed. That’s to be sure.”
US policy on Afghanistan was yesterday cited as a tipping point in their relationship. Mr Bolton was reportedly opposed to Mr Trump’s plan to bring Taliban leaders and the Afghan president to Camp David for peace talks.
The president revealed the secret plans on Saturday while also announcing the meeting was cancelled after the death of a US soldier in Afghanistan.
Critics questioned why Mr Trump would have hosted Taliban leaders on US soil just three days before the anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks. Mr Bolton served under Mr Bush, who was US president when the atrocity took place. Yesterday morning Mr Bolton had tweeted about the importance of remembering the “horrific” attack.
Clashes over whether to sign a peace deal with the Taliban and the need to deliver Mr Trump’s promise to bring US troops back from Afghanistan were not the only areas of disagreement.
Mr Bolton was sceptical of the chances of North Korea agreeing to denuclearise. He said recent North Korean missile tests violated UN resolutions, which the president had contradicted.
They also clashed over Iran. Mr Bolton was said to have supported an airstrike after Tehran shot down a US drone over the summer. But Mr Trump backed out at the last minute.
Mr Pompeo said yesterday that Mr Trump may meet Mr Rouhani at the UN general assembly in New York this month in a sign of a possible softening of America’s hard-line approach. Charlie Kupperman, Mr Bolton’s deputy, will temporarily fill the vacancy. US media speculated that Brian Hook or Stephen Biegun, advisers on Iran and North Korea, could replace him.