Bolton blasted Trump’s recent meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling Trump’s efforts “confused” and “collapsing in haste.” He argued that the president’s attempts to broker a trilateral summit “may have left us further from peace and a just settlement for Ukraine than before.”
A Feud Years in the Making
Bolton’s relationship with Trump has been bitter since 2019, when Trump asked him to resign as national security adviser.
Bolton later published The Room Where It Happened, a memoir that the Trump administration attempted to block, alleging it contained classified material.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Bill Barr sued Bolton, claiming he bypassed security reviews. While a judge ruled Bolton “likely jeopardized national security,” the book was ultimately published. The civil lawsuit and a parallel criminal probe were dropped under the Biden administration in 2021.
Trump, asked about the latest developments, downplayed Bolton’s criticism. “I wasn’t a fan,” the former president remarked, alluding to their long-standing clashes. Trump has previously accused Bolton of running a “retribution campaign” against him.
What’s Next for Bolton?
While past investigations into Bolton’s book have been closed, the latest FBI raid suggests renewed scrutiny. “If the media and the American people let this case unfold… they’re going to find out that what we’re doing is deliberate and lawful,” Vice President Vance said.
