John Bolton, former national security adviser, appeared unfazed by President-elect Trump’s decision to have billionaire Elon Musk join his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following Trump’s 2024 election win.
“When I first heard, my initial reaction was, well, who cares? It’s hardly unusual for a Vice President-elect to be part of a President-elect’s call. Then I remembered that Elon Musk isn’t the Vice President-elect,” Bolton remarked to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Friday. “It’s just typical of Trump.”
Former national security adviser John Bolton expresses indifference over Musk’s participation in the Zelensky call
Bolton further commented that breaking with convention is nothing new for Trump. He noted, “Trump isn’t known for adhering to norms, as we’ve seen before.
While it might not indicate sudden chaos, it doesn’t exactly signal newfound order and stability at Mar-a-Lago, despite what’s being said about these early appointments,” he added during his appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”
Since being declared the winner of the White House race over Vice President Harris, Trump has engaged in conversations with multiple world leaders. Musk’s participation in the Zelensky call hints at how his close ties with the president-elect might influence matters come January. Zelensky described the exchange as “a productive conversation, a good conversation.”
The Ukrainian president added, “While we can’t yet foresee his actions, we hope for a stronger America under his leadership.”
Throughout his campaign, Trump has frequently claimed he could end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has stretched close to three years, even before he assumes office. Critics contend that his proposed solution may pressure Ukraine to concede territory to Russia.
Bolton, who initially served under Trump but has since become an outspoken critic, indicated that recent developments around the call suggest Trump’s characteristic “do-what-you-want” approach, now with Musk as his latest fascination.
When asked what advice he might offer the next national security adviser, Bolton emphasized that the role requires presenting the president with clear policy choices to ensure well-informed decisions. He stressed the importance of seeing decisions through to completion.
“If the president decides against your counsel, that’s part of the job,” he said in comments highlighted by Mediaite. “As national security adviser, you are not the ultimate decision-maker.”
Bolton added, “Your job is certainly not to blindly agree with everything the president says. You need to make sure all relevant information and viable options are laid out, even though you’re dealing with a human being and must balance that.”
He cautioned that simply agreeing with the president without critical input doesn’t serve the president or the country well.
These remarks come as Trump’s transition team has already begun reviewing potential candidates for his Cabinet and other positions. So far, the only announced appointment has been Susie Wiles as chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the position.
