Jimmy Carter Blasts Trump for Tapping John Bolton

The former president called Trump's choice for national security adviser 'a disaster'
By Josh Gardner,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 26, 2018 5:01 PM CDT
Jimmy Carter Calls Bolton 'a Disaster for Our Country'
Former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School class at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Ga.   (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Jimmy Carter sat down with USA Today to discuss his new book and the former president used the opportunity to address what he says may be one of the "worst mistakes" made by President Trump: John Bolton. Carter says he believes Trump's decision to name Bolton as national security adviser is "a disaster for our country," calling Bolton a warlike figure who advocates for US attacks on North Korea and Iran. Bolton made a name for himself as a George W. Bush-era appointee who Carter says helped orchestrate the disastrous invasion of Iraq. Bolton replaces Lt. Gen. HR McMaster, who has resigned effective April 9. Bolton will become President Trump's third national security adviser in the first 14 months of his presidency.

Bolton will join a refitted team that, as AP notes, is now almost entirely composed of right-leaning hawks whose views largely align with his own. Meanwhile, Carter is on a media tour to promote his 32nd book, Faith: A Journey for All, which hits store shelves Tuesday. In a previous sit-down, he also touched on Trump but not to assail his choices. Rather, Carter told CBS' Sunday Morning that it would be his preference that the president not be impeached, even if Robert Mueller were to find that he has violated the law. "I think ultimately the restraints on a president from the Congress and from the Supreme Court will be adequate to protect our nation, if he serves a full term," Carter said. (More Jimmy Carter stories.)

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