WASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concern Tuesday following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he fired White House National Security Adviser John Bolton.
“Today’s action by the president is just the latest example of his government-by-chaos approach and his rudderless national security policy. When Ambassador Bolton’s extreme views aren’t enough for you, the United States is headed for even more chaotic times,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not address Bolton’s firing at his weekly news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump announced Bolton’s firing in a series of tweets late Tuesday morning.
….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 Advisor next week.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019
Bolton responded in a tweet a short time later.
I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) September 10, 2019
Bolton is considered a neoconservative foreign policy hawk. He is believed to have been a driving force behind Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and he is an advocate of regime change in Tehran.
In June Trump called off a planned strike against Iranian military targets 10 minutes before it was to begin. Trump said carrying out a strike in retaliation for the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. surveillance drone would not have been a “proportionate” response.
Many political pundits have argued that Bolton was behind the planned attack.
Bolton became national security adviser in April 2018. He is the third person to have occupied that position since Trump took office in January 2017.
His previous service includes 16 months as U.N. Ambassador and four years as Under Secretary of State for Arms and Control and International Security. Bolton occupied both the positions during the administration of President George W. Bush.
During his tenure at the U.N., Bolton helped defeat general assembly resolutions that condemned Israeli military action and West Bank settlement expansion. He has been praised by right-leaning pro-Israel groups and is held in high esteem by many Republicans.
