John Bolton’s pity parade persisted as the former national security adviser suggested a potential outcome were he to be killed by Iran in the wake of President Donald Trump’s protection decision.
(Video: NewsNation)
In what many have considered merely an opening salvo against the establishment, the GOP leader was quick to hamstring a number of mouthpieces of the machine by removing security clearances. Among them was Bolton, who subsequently had his security detail taken away, leading him to argue it would be a “signal of weakness” if Trump didn’t respond to a hypothetical assassination by Iran.
“You heard the president say he…will not feel responsible if, God forbid, something should happen to you,” said NewsNation host Elizabeth Vargas while interviewing the former NSA Friday. “We do know these threats are real. You say they were reaffirmed yet again by intelligence agencies as recently as just a few days ago. You said that if something does happen to you that the Trump administration will be forced to respond.”
“Well, I think if they didn’t respond that — by that, I mean militarily against Iran — it would be a real signal of weakness,” argued Bolton. “You know, Trump may not feel any sense of responsibility, but I think plenty of other people would. And that is what serves as a deterrent to Iran doing it in the first place.”
“So, it’s just another example of Trump not fully understanding what the government is about,” he continued. “Another thing he said is, those people are not entitled to protection for their entire lives…Believe me, none of us want protection for the rest of our lives. We’d like this threat to be eliminated or to go away. And the happiest day, I think for all of us, would be when we didn’t need protection because there’s no more threat.”
Along with Bolton, Trump had pulled the security details of former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
That decision, the former official suggested to Vargas, was a result of Trump’s “entirely political” motivation. “This is part of the retribution campaign.”
Having expressed his concerns that Iran would be coming after him in their continued effort at retaliation over the 2020 drone strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qassem Soliemani, Bolton had initially lamented on X, “I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service.”
“Notwithstanding my criticisms of President Biden’s national-security policies, he nonetheless made the decision to extend that protection to me in 2021. The Justice Department filed criminal charges against an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official in 2022 for attempting to hire a hit man to target me,” he went on. “That threat remains today, as also demonstrated by the recent arrest of someone trying to arrange for President Trump’s own assassination. The American people can judge for themselves which President made the right call.”
Reactions to the man Trump referred to as a “warmonger” and “very dumb person” had appeared to show support for the incumbent’s take that Bolton could foot the bill for his own security if he still felt the need, especially with fiscal responsibility being a focus.
Great news for taxpayers, every little helps in reducing waste and bureaucracy
Trump is delivering on his promise to cut costs and drain the swamp
MAGA is winning, keep up the good work Mr President
— Stop Socialist Tyranny (@endlibtyranny) January 24, 2025
Promises made, promises kept. It’s not like they can’t all afford their own security anyhow.
— @CharlesleeTX1911 (@Charles07788205) January 25, 2025
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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