Former national security adviser John Bolton stated that the disorder was “intrinsic” to President Trump’s nature following the dismissal of national security adviser Mike Waltz.
Bolton authored an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, just hours after it was disclosed that Waltz would transition from his national security adviser position to become Trump’s UN ambassador.
Having served in the initial Trump administration and later become a critic of the president, Bolton emphasized staffing changes that arose from the Signal Group Chat controversy, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had assumed “dual responsibilities” as acting national security adviser in Waltz’s absence.
“There was no need for this. In my experience, no emojis were present during the enigmatic group chats on the signal,” Bolton writes. “However, for Trump, chaos is intrinsic to his being and pervasive within his team.”
Waltz’s removal sparked tumultuous changes as he was the first senior administration official to alter roles.
Bolton criticized Trump’s special mission official, Steve Witkov, for not possessing the expertise necessary to manage the Russian-Ukraine conflict, Iranian relations, and intergovernmental negotiations. Previously, he informed NBC News that Waltz’s confirmation process as UN ambassador would be “influenced” by the signal scandals.
He also called out the Secretary of Defense for instigating alarming tariffs across various nations during the recent signal group chats and Trump’s significant tariff decisions.
Due to the upheaval within the administration’s international and defense leadership, Bolton asserted that foreign nations and domestic factions could exploit the U.S.
He placed the responsibility for the confusion squarely on the president and not on the Trump administration’s advisers. He criticized Trump for his “impromptu” choices, referencing negotiations with Iran concerning nuclear weapons and actions taken by national security officials.
“Presidents who fail to utilize the mechanisms of the National Security Council undermine planning capacity, management oversight, and follow-through in decision-making,” Bolton states.
“Given Trump’s character, there’s no ideal resolution,” he concluded. “Regardless, his advisors must enhance their decision-making processes, if not for the sake of the U.S., at least.”
