Trump and Bolton Feud Resurfaces After FBI Raids/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s home and office were raided by the FBI in a classified documents probe, reigniting attention on his broken relationship with Donald Trump. Once allies on foreign policy, the two have spent years trading insults. Their feud highlights the volatility inside Trump’s orbit and its lasting impact on U.S. politics.
Trump and Bolton Fallout: Quick Looks
- FBI Action: Raids at Bolton’s Maryland home and D.C. office
- Trump’s Response: Calls Bolton “a lowlife” and “not a fan”
- Early Praise: Trump once admired Bolton’s toughness, considered him for key posts
- National Security Advisor Role: Bolton appointed in 2018, served 17 months
- Shared Policy Ground: Both supported U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal
- Major Tensions: Bolton pushed regime-change tactics, clashed with Trump on diplomacy
- North Korea Dispute: Bolton’s “Libya model” remarks angered Pyongyang and Trump
- Afghanistan Talks: Bolton opposed Trump’s Taliban negotiations before ouster in 2019
- Exit Drama: Trump claimed he fired Bolton; Bolton insisted he resigned
- Aftermath: Years of public clashes, culminating in FBI raids over documents
Deep Look: How Trump and Bolton’s Alliance Collapsed
WASHINGTON — The FBI’s raids on John Bolton’s home and office on Friday have put a spotlight back on one of the most dramatic political fallouts of the Trump era. Once a trusted national security advisor and foreign policy hawk, Bolton is now a central figure in an investigation over classified materials and a frequent critic of the president he once served.
From Admiration to Appointment
Donald Trump initially spoke highly of John Bolton during his early presidential run. In 2015, he praised Bolton on Meet the Press as “a tough cookie” who “knows what he’s talking about.” By late 2016, Bolton was floated as a possible secretary of state pick, with conservative outlets lobbying Trump to appoint him. Instead, Trump selected Rex Tillerson.
Still, Bolton’s foreign policy credentials kept him close to Trump’s inner circle. By March 2018, Trump announced Bolton would succeed H.R. McMaster as national security advisor, calling him “a terrific guy” and declaring his appointment “an honor to serve our country.”
Policy Alignment and Early Successes
For a time, the two found common ground. Bolton strongly supported Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, an agreement Trump derided as “horrible” and “one-sided.” Alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Bolton helped shape a hard-line U.S. stance on Tehran.
Cracks in the Relationship
But tensions quickly emerged. Bolton’s long history of advocating regime change in Iran and his aggressive posture toward adversaries clashed with Trump’s more flexible, media-driven approach. Trump accused him of wanting to “take on the whole world.”
In April 2018, Bolton suggested North Korea should follow the “Libya model” of denuclearization, a comparison that drew fury from Pyongyang and skepticism from Trump. The fallout deepened divisions inside the administration.
By mid-2019, Trump publicly criticized Bolton’s hawkish instincts: “If it was up to him, he’d take on the whole world at one time.”
Afghanistan Dispute and Bolton’s Exit
The breaking point came in September 2019, when Trump prepared for a historic meeting with Taliban leaders to discuss Afghanistan peace talks. Bolton opposed the effort, reportedly clashing with Trump behind closed doors. Days later, Bolton was out.
Trump tweeted he had asked for Bolton’s resignation, while Bolton countered that he offered it voluntarily and that Trump said, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” The exit ended Bolton’s 17-month tenure, one of the shortest for a national security advisor in modern history.
Robert C. O’Brien was tapped as his replacement, while Bolton left the administration increasingly critical of Trump’s foreign policy style.
Years of Public Feuding
The split ignited years of insults. Trump called Bolton “a lowlife” and “not smart,” while Bolton portrayed Trump as erratic and unfit for high-stakes diplomacy. The two traded barbs across interviews, books, and social media.
Even allies like Roger Stone piled on, labeling Bolton’s legal troubles “karma.” Trump himself reiterated Friday that Bolton was “a very unpatriotic guy” who “says bad things about Trump whenever he can.”
FBI Raids Revive Old Battles
The FBI raids on Bolton’s Maryland home and D.C. office mark a new chapter. Agents were seen carrying boxes of materials as part of what Vice President JD Vance described as “the early stages of an ongoing investigation.” Sources said federal authorities are searching for classified documents Bolton may still possess.
Bolton was not arrested and is not currently in custody, but the raids immediately brought his contentious history with Trump back into focus.
Trump insisted he had no advance knowledge of the search, telling reporters, “I saw the reports, but I didn’t know.”
Broader Implications
The Bolton raids highlight the broader turbulence of Trump’s presidency and second term, in which insiders often became fierce critics after leaving. They also underscore the lasting shadow of national security disputes, from the Iran nuclear deal to Afghanistan and North Korea.
For Trump, the episode offered another opportunity to remind supporters of his disdain for Bolton. For Bolton, it reinforced his role as both insider and critic — one who once held the president’s ear but now faces scrutiny from the very government he once served.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.