On Monday, President Donald Trump rescinded the Secret Service protection previously afforded to former National Security Advisor John Bolton following his inauguration as the 47th president. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Bolton expressed his discontent with this decision.
“I’ve certainly experienced better days, and this is, well… I believe it reflects the typical character of Trump. This is indicative of the kind of individual, or lack thereof, who now holds the presidency,” Bolton remarked.
Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor under Trump until his departure from the administration in 2019, elaborated on the reasons for his prior protection.
“When President Biden recognized the threats against me and several other current and former U.S. government officials, he authorized the Secret Service to reinstate my protection, which I had while serving as National Security Advisor. I suspect he was not particularly pleased due to my criticisms of his foreign policy,” Bolton stated.
“However, he acted because it is unacceptable to permit a rogue state, such as the terrorist regime in Iran, to endanger Americans—whether they are in government or not—simply for voicing their opinions or, in the case of government employees, performing their duties,” he added.
“Trump has chosen to reverse this decision. While it is certainly within his authority to do so, I believe this is a serious matter that warrants public consideration regarding who made the more prudent choice: President Biden or President Trump.”
The revocation of Bolton’s security detail comes after years of public discord between him and Trump, with Bolton consistently criticizing both the former and current president’s foreign policy strategies. During his tenure, Bolton was recognized for his aggressive positions on nations such as Iran and North Korea.
When questioned by reporters on Tuesday about his rationale for revoking Bolton’s security clearance, Trump responded, “Because I think that was enough time.”
He remarked that it is not feasible to provide lifelong security for individuals, questioning the rationale behind such a measure.
“I express my disappointment, though not my surprise, regarding President Trump’s decision to revoke the protection that the United States Secret Service had previously afforded me,” Bolton stated in a Tuesday announcement. “Despite my critiques of President Biden’s national-security strategies, he made the choice to extend that protection to me in 2021.”
Bolton has held numerous positions within the government, most prominently as the U.S. National Security Advisor during President Trump’s administration from 2018 to 2019. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2006.
His time in the Trump administration concluded amid significant disagreements over foreign policy, which ultimately led to his exit. Following his departure from the White House, Bolton authored a book titled The Room Where It Happened, offering a critical perspective on the foreign policy decision-making processes of the Trump administration.
In August 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Shahram Poursafi, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with conspiring to assassinate Bolton. This alleged plot was thought to be a response to the U.S. airstrike that resulted in the death of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
