Former National Security Adviser John Bolton is out of the White House, but he’s not done talking about the United States’ foreign policy.
Bolton spoke about the Trump administration’s approach toward North Korea in less-than-glowing terms Monday during a talk at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He reportedly said the U.S. should stop trying to organize summits between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and instead opt for a tougher path that could ultimately include regime change or even military force to halt North Korea’s nuclear program.
“I don’t think the North Koreans will ever voluntarily give up enough,” Bolton said, referring to the negotiation strategy, which remains Washington’s preferred option at the moment. “There is no basis to trust any promise that regime makes.”
Bolton also reportedly added that the White House is not being harsh enough when it comes to North Korea’s United Nations Security Council violations.
As The Washington Post notes, Bolton’s comments are hardly surprising — he has long held a reputation for favoring forceful foreign policy — and his opinion, frankly, doesn’t carry any actual decision-making weight at the moment. Still, his willingness to coyly, but publicly criticize the White House does raise some questions as to whether Bolton could eventually serve as a witness in the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, the Post reports. Read more at The Washington Post.