President Trump’s decision to revoke John Bolton’s Secret Service protection, despite ongoing threats from Iran, has reopened tensions between the former national security advisor and the White House.
Key Facts:
– John Bolton lost his Secret Service detail immediately after Trump’s inauguration in January.
– Bolton has faced Iranian threats for years, including an alleged 2021 assassination plot.
– The Department of Justice charged a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2022 for the plot against Bolton.
– Trump stated that continuing security for life is unnecessary and that Bolton’s allocated protection period was sufficient.
– Bolton had served as Trump’s national security advisor until 2019, when the two parted ways over policy disputes.
The Rest of The Story:
John Bolton, who served as national security advisor from 2018 to 2019, told Fox News Digital that President Trump terminated his Secret Service protection right after returning to the White House.
According to Bolton, President Biden had extended that protection in 2021 because of the serious nature of threats from Iran.
However, President Trump apparently judged that enough time had passed and that indefinite security details were not practical.
Bolton has repeatedly been the target of documented threats, particularly from Iran after the U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian Quds Force commander in early 2020.
The Justice Department formally charged a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for conspiring to hire a hit man to eliminate Bolton.
Bolton expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s move, suggesting that a known, ongoing threat from a foreign adversary should merit continued federal protection.
He noted that Americans can decide for themselves whether President Biden or President Trump made the better judgment.
This is the latest development in a back-and-forth feud.
Trump fired Bolton from his administration in 2019, tweeting that they had strong disagreements on policy.
In return, Bolton has accused Trump of lacking fitness for office.
Their criticisms of each other have continued through the years, spotlighting a bitter personal and professional rift.
Commentary:
John Bolton took advantage of his high-level clearance and position for his own gain.
His disagreements with President Trump were clear, yet there is no reason taxpayers should foot the bill for lifelong protection when the supposed Iranian threat has faded.
The government owes no special privileges to someone who misused his security access and parted on bad terms.
The Bottom Line:
Bolton’s loss of protection underscores a lingering dispute within conservative circles about national security and personal safety.
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The White House believes providing such protection has time limits, while Bolton believes the threat remains urgent.