Bolton offers scathing criticism of Trump at closed-door event, attendee says

While Bolton did not mention Trump by name, he said the idea of inviting the Taliban to Camp David was “disrespectful” to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the attendee. As CNN previously reported, Bolton and Trump got into a heated argument over the President’s plan to host the Taliban leaders in the days before the 18th anniversary of the attacks, and Bolton did not back down, two people familiar with what happened said.

Bolton’s exit made him the latest national security figure the Trump administration has plowed through, even as multiple geopolitical crises have played out. Trump’s approach to national security — and his penchant for threatening other countries over Twitter — has made national security roles within the Trump administration increasingly difficult to navigate.

Bolton told the attendees he believed that letting these attacks go unanswered is simply encouraging Iran’s bad behavior.

In wide-ranging comments to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Trump held forth on Iran and Afghanistan, pausing to criticize Bolton for his positions on Iraq and North Korea and make clear he disagreed with his former adviser’s stance on Venezuela.

While Bolton had pushed tough measures against Iran and North Korea — and in the past has advocated the use of military force against both — Trump praised the potential of both countries and did not rule out easing sanctions on Tehran, a change the regime is demanding before it will engage in talks.