Bolton offers scathing criticism of Trump at closed-door event, attendee says

CNN ^ | Sept. 19, 2019 | Jim Acosta and Paul LeBlanc

[Innovative]

Former national security adviser John Bolton didn't offer any praise of President Donald Trump in remarks at a private event Wednesday, but instead took aim at his former boss' policies on the world stage, according to an attendee.

Bolton, who Trump fired earlier this month, made comments at an event hosted by the Gatestone Institute in New York that the attendee characterized to CNN as scathing in their criticism of Trump's approach to Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan. Politico was first to report on Bolton's remarks.

"Bolton didn't have anything positive to say about Trump," the attendee said.

[Innovative]

This is evil and it isn't just damaging to Trump, but to the US.

I used to like Bolton, I had no idea he can behave this way. At this point I think he should be arrested and locked up for security breach and treason

[RummyChick]

Bolton was right about the Taliban meeting ..now he is just trying to increase his fees. He shouldnt be doing this

[laconic]

I knew his appointment was a mistake from the beginning. A Vietnam draft dodging, neocon warmonger didn’t belong as NSA. Let the Democrats have this loser.

[mikey_hates_everything]

I read the article, it’s Acosta... Bolton should keep his mouth shut but I didn’t really see anything new or “scathing”.

[Cboldt]

This news makes Trump's point. Bolton's views and Trump's can't be reconciled. I would guess that after his tenure, Trump had heard all from Bolton that Bolton had to offer, in other words the advice became repetitive.

News Flash! Trump is not a neocon!

Bolton has always felt free to air his foreign policy prescriptions to anybody who would listen. Nothing has changed.

[JudgemAll]

Wow. Imagine that. cNN in love with Bolton now. Wtf. All we need next is Hitler saying he does not like Trump, then all the liberal fascist loose ends will be tied up.

As for Bolton, he is a Fudd cop. You do not retaliate at Iran, you simply stage nuclear missiles in Saudi Arabia and Iraq and scare the Chinese and Russians into telling Iran to stop this bull sht and its nuke program.

[euram]

I predicted on the day he was fired that he’d start showing up as an anti-Trumper and that it would not be long before he’d show up on CNN and MSNBC. He’s just POd that he wasn’t able to draw us into yet another of his stupid never-ending wars.

[bray]

Bolton is destroying his own name. Keep your mouth shut John.

[libh8er]

Me neither. It’s a clickbait headline. The corrupt media are desperate for clicks and their lying begins right from the headline.

[King Moonracer]

Too man big babies who profess conservative values but vent their spleen about perceived injustices the first opportunity they get. Bwahhhhhhhh. He didn’t get what he wanted. Dead Americans fighting a foreign war.

[Puppage]

I agree with you.

[kabar]

A failure of character. Bolton was given a tremendous opportunity to serve by Trump. He is not grateful, but rather, vindictive. His ego and personal ambition are more important than the interests of the country. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[oldplayer]

First the leftist hate Bolton. Then They love Bolton. Then they hate Bolton. Then they love Bolton.

Bolton pretty much stays the same. The change is whether what he says can be used to support Trump or hurt Trump.

I despise the leftmedia.

[FlingWingFlyer]

No credibility Trump hater, Little Jimmy Acosta. LOL. The boy isn’t happy unless he’s throwing a tantrum and whining his @$$ off about President Trump. “Attendee”? Really?

[JonPreston]

I’ve always considered Bolton to be a mental case so for me at least, his criticism of DJT is a badge of honor.

[faucetman]

President Bolton.

Yeah, the guy who is a total nobody, who ran for president, and NOBODY noticed.

I “used to” like you John Bolton, now you can FOAD. (and the mustache you rode in on)

” “Jean a une longe moustache.” (John has a long mustache.)”

” the hour of liberation was at hand.”

We are liberated from this war monger’s influence in our government.

[Rashputin]

So what's new?

Bolton was spewing scathing criticism of Trump even while he worked for Trump.

[Dana1960]

Funny, I never saw John Bolton on my ballot.

I voted for DJT’s foreign policy, not John Bolton’s foreign policy.

[Ken H]

“i predicted on the day he was fired that he’d start showing up as an anti-Trumper and that it would not be long before he’d show up on CNN and MSNBC. He’s just POd that he wasn’t able to draw us into yet another of his stupid never-ending wars.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, and several FReepers seem ready to join the anti-Trumpers along with Bolton.

[nathanbedford]

His ego and personal ambition are more important than the interests of the country.

I do not take this conclusion away from this alleged news report which one poster has already aptly identified as "click bait." Quite the contrary, it seems to me that, in the biblical account of Paul and Peter, Bolton withstood Trump to his face. He did not toady, rather he did his job as National Security Advisor which was to give the president his best advice As National Security Advisor. Risking one's job to do one's job is hardly an egotistical act or contrary to one's understanding of the country's national interests.

In that position a sycophant is a very dangerous person, Bolton did not play that role.

Trump does not appear to good advantage in this saga. He has repeatedly denigrated Bolton both before and after Bolton's resignation. He may or may not have lied about how that resignation was forthcoming, either by demand or by voluntary offer.

As far as I can tell, Bolton's remarks were made at a private gathering not intended to be public. It seems that Bolton was discussing matters that Trump had already mooted concerning Bolton. If Trump accuses Bolton of being willing to use military force against Venezuela, as I think is the case, Bolton has a right to defend himself against those remarks and against other remarks in similar contexts. The president cannot have it both ways.

I've already posted that Bolton has a responsibility not to wage a guerrilla war against the president, that would be contrary to the national interests, but he does have a right to protect his own dignity and to rebut remarks made by the president, especially when the president makes makes it a matter of public discourse.