Upon his return to the White House, President Donald Trump yanked away his former national security advisor’s security clearances and Secret Service protections.
Despite having served in Trump’s previous administration, 76-year-old Bolton will not be making a return appearance. One day after canceling Bolton’s security clearances, the president went back for round two and removed his taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail.
“We’re not gonna have security on people for the rest of their lives. Why should we?” Trump wondered.
“I thought he was a very dumb person, but I used him well,” he added, discussing the move with reporters. “Every time people saw me come into a meeting with John Bolton standing behind me, they thought that he’d attack them because he was a warmonger.”
He brought up Bolton’s influence in launching the Iraq War, saying “We got nothing out of it except a lot of death. We killed a lot of people, and John Bolton was one of those guys — a stupid guy.”
“But no, you can’t have that for life. You shouldn’t expect it for life.”
Bolton responded to the decision on X, where few people could find any sympathy for the man who openly trashed Trump:
I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service. Notwithstanding my criticisms of President Biden’s national-security policies, he nonetheless made the decision to extend…
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 21, 2025
“I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service. Notwithstanding my criticisms of President Biden’s national-security policies, he nonetheless made the decision to extend that protection to me in 2021,” the former national security advisor wrote. “The Justice Department filed criminal charges against an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official in 2022 for attempting to hire a hit man to target me. That threat remains today, as also demonstrated by the recent arrest of someone trying to arrange for President Trump’s own assassination. The American people can judge for themselves which President made the right call.”
It was hard to find anyone willing to shed tears for Bolton:
You don’t deserve secret service protection
— American AF (@iAnonPatriot) January 21, 2025
Nope. Take those millions that you’ve made off our backs and go ahead and get your own security. pic.twitter.com/gqs1KP3y1A
— Wanda Collins (@CollinsWan41939) January 21, 2025
Cry more traitor!
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 22, 2025
Why did you lie about Hunter’s laptop?
If you’re going to rely on your national security “credentials” to seek protection at the taxpayer’s expense, then you have to use those credentials honestly
If you’re not an honest broker, you can’t complain about the consequences of…
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) January 22, 2025
Why on earth were we paying to protect you?
Pay for your own security like the rest of us civilians have to.
Thank you, President Trump!
— Whale Psychiatrist ™️ (@k_ovfefe2) January 21, 2025
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