John Bolton’s awful, horrible, very bad book
John Bolton’s book may be number one on Amazon, but critics are panning it as just a reflection of Bolton himself—gross and badly distorted.
In a liberal world eager for Trump gossip and wrong-doing, the New York Times calls the book “exceedingly tedious and slightly unhinged.”
Critics also hit Bolton for remaining quiet all this time. Offered a chance to testify at the impeachment hearings earlier in the year, Bolton chose to wait to put all his salacious gossip in the book. The delay destroyed his credibility, which was shaky to begin with.
Trump agrees and minced no words about what he thinks of Bolton: “Bolton’s book, which is getting terrible reviews, is a compilation of lies and made up stories, all intended to make me look bad. Many of the ridiculous statements he attributes to me were never made, pure fiction. Just trying to get even for firing him like the sick puppy he is!”
Bolton was fired as National Security Adviser last year because he and Trump don’t agree on the use of force in diplomacy.
Trump wants to stop the endless practice of sending American troops to foreign wars, while Bolton often thought of sending in troops even before diplomatic talks started.
“In all three [North Korea, Iran and Venezuela] Bolton wanted a war and the president didn’t,” said Fernando Cutz, who previously served at the National Security Council in the Trump administration.
That’s why any allegations in the book ring hollow even to liberals.
Take for example the dismissive tone Bolton claimed in the book that the president took towards Taiwan.
“Although it came in several variations, one of Trump’s favorite comparisons was to point to the tip of one of his Sharpie and say, ‘this is Taiwan,’ then point to [his desk in the Oval Office] and say, ‘this is China.’ So much for American commitments and obligations to another democratically,” Bolton writes according to NPR.
Yet relations with Taiwan are warmer than ever under Trump. In fact, the Chinese are furious that Trump signed the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative in March.
“While the United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration has ramped up backing for the island, with arms sales and laws to help Taiwan deal with pressure from China,” Reuters said when Trump signed the act.
One administration official is strongly condemning Bolton’s account of a meeting whereby Bolton says Trump gave Chinese president Xi permission to build camps in China.
“Absolutely untrue. Never happened. I was there,” U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer said. “I was at the meeting … nothing like that happened … Completely crazy.”
In support of the Trump administration’s version of that meeting, today Trump signed the Uyghur Human Rights Act, placing sanctions on Chinese officials involved in the camps.
As NPR concluded, the revelations from Bolton might have been newsworthy five months ago.
But now it won’t even make the history books — except perhaps as gross and distorted reflections of Bolton himself.
Scroll down to comment!
