John Bolton blindsided as Donald Trump announces on Twitter he’s fired as national security adviser
- US president ‘disagreed strongly’ with top aide on many issues, with latest dispute arising over whether to hold secret summit at Camp David
- Bolton says he had offered to resign on Monday, but Trump said ‘let’s talk about it tomorrow’
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has fired his hawkish national security adviser, John Bolton, after disagreeing “strongly” with many of his positions, ending a tumultuous tenure marked by multiple setbacks in US foreign policy.
Bolton, known for his hardline approach to US adversaries, including Iran, North Korea and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was the third person to formally occupy the White House’s highest-ranking national security job under Trump.
“I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” Trump said in a pair of tweets. “I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.”
Bolton had been expected to take part in a White House press briefing on terrorism on Tuesday. Minutes after Trump’s announcement, Bolton contradicted the president on Twitter, saying that he had offered to resign on Monday night and Trump deferred the discussion.
Trump and Bolton had disagreed on “many, many issues”, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said. Most recently, Bolton had advised the president against a meeting he had planned with the Taliban at Camp David to complete negotiations to end the war in Afghanistan.