Why did Donald Trump fire John Bolton?
Row over Taliban meeting believed to be final straw in rocky relationship

US President Donald Trump has fired his national security adviser, John Bolton, saying he disagreed “strongly” with him.
The world learned of the departure through Trump’s favourite medium. “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Adviser next week.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, Bolton, insists he offered to leave his post voluntarily, tweeting minutes after Trump's announcement, “I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, “Let's talk about it tomorrow.’” As USA Today puts it, how the sacking happened is a case of “he said, Trump said”.
Bolton’s notably terse resignation letter read: “I hereby resign, effective immediately, as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Thank you for affording me this opportunity to serve our country.”
Bolton, who was Trump's third national security adviser after Michael Flynn and HR McMaster, disagreed with the president on a number of foreign policy challenges, from Afghanistan to Iran. His hawkish approach was at odds with Trump’s preference for hard negotiation.
It is also believed that Bolton’s approach upset Trump. A White House official told CBS News: “Bolton has his priorities. He didn't ask the president ‘What are your priorities?’ They're Bolton's priorities.”
According to reports, the two men had a heated argument on Monday night over the Trump’s plan to host Taliban leaders at Camp David, with the hawkish Bolton refusing to back down. However, it is believed that this was merely the final straw after their relationship had already soured.
CNN says a campaign by Trump allies to push Bolton out of the administration had “ramped up” in recent weeks. Supporters had repeatedly appealed to the president to replace Bolton with someone who agreed with him more. Trump felt Bolton was harming his credibility.
The Times says that Bolton’s “long-established bellicose views were always at odds with Mr Trump’s fondness for personal summitry”. It adds that the president blamed the failure of talks with North Korea in February on Bolton’s “insistence on playing a tough hand”.
Perhaps the writing had been on the wall from the start. According to the New Yorker, an official who overheard Trump on the phone discussing Bolton’s appointment claims the president said: “He’s going to get us into a war.” The president is reported to have said in one Oval Office meeting that “John has never seen a war he doesn’t like”.
Certainly many will feel that the chances of a war involving the US are now lower. CNBC says “the odds of a military conflict with Iran are reduced” now that Bolton has left the building.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Colleges are canceling affinity graduations amid DEI attacks but students are pressing on
In the Spotlight The commencement at Harvard University was in the news, but other colleges are also taking action
-
When did computer passwords become a thing?
The Explainer People have been racking their brains for good codes for longer than you might think
-
What to know before 'buying the dip'
the explainer Purchasing a stock once it has fallen in value can pay off — or cost you big
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Trump's super-charged pardon push raises eyebrows and concerns
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Never shy about using his pardon ability for political leverage, Trump's spate of amnesty announcements suggests the White House is taking things to a new level
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
'Physicians today have a number of ways of categorizing pain'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day