Trump Says He Has Fired John Bolton as National Security Advisor

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as
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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has terminated National Security Advisor John Bolton from his position, citing strong disagreement on “many of his suggestions” regarding foreign policy.

“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. I thank John very much for his service,” the president wrote in a pair of tweets.

President Trump revealed he will name Bolton’s successor “next week.”

Shortly after President Trump’s announcement, Bolton tweeted that he offered his resignation Monday evening, to which the outgoing White House official said the president replied: “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

Charles Kupperman, who serves as Deputy National Security Advisor, will take over as Bolton’s acting replacement, Bloomberg News reports, citing an unnamed White House official.

Libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) praised President Trump following the news of Bolton’s ouster, tweeting: “I commend @realDonaldTrump for this necessary action. The President has great instincts on foreign policy and ending our endless wars. He should be served by those who share those views.”

The president’s announcement came roughly two hours prior to a White House press briefing slated to feature Bolton, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

News of Bolton’s departure follows reports that he and Vice President Mike Pence opposed plans for the president to hold peace talks at Camp David with the Taliban regarding the U.S. withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. The president has denied there were disagreements between himself and others in the White House.

Bolton’s championed hawkish foreign policy views dating back to the Reagan administration and became a household name over his vociferous support for the Iraq War as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. under George W. Bush.

Since joining the administration in the spring of last year, Bolton has espoused skepticism about the president’s whirlwind rapprochement with North Korea and has advocated against President Trump’s decision last year to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. He masterminded a quiet campaign inside the administration and with allies abroad to persuade President Trump to keep U.S. forces in Syria to counter the remnants of the Islamic State and Iranian influence in the region.

Bolton was appointed President Trump’s third national security advisor in April 2018. He succeeded Army Gen. H.R. McMaster.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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