Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to John Bolton

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving John Bolton.

John Bolton is an American attorney, diplomat, Republican consultant, and political commentator. He is notable for serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and as the National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Known for his hawkish foreign policy views, Bolton has been a prominent figure in Republican politics and a frequent commentator on international affairs.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1970: Vietnam War

Before graduating from Yale College in 1970, John Bolton enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard rather than waiting to find out if his draft number would be called.

1972: Biological Weapons Convention

In 2001, John Bolton derailed a 2001 biological weapons conference in Geneva convened to endorse a UN proposal to enforce the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.

1994: Bolton's Stance on the United Nations

In 1994, John Bolton stated, "There is no United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world, and that's the United States, when it suits our interests and when we can get others to go along."

May 2000: Jose Bustani Re-elected

In May 2000, José Bustani had been unanimously re-elected for a four-year term as head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

2001: Colin Powell praises Jose Bustani

In 2001, Colin Powell praised José Bustani's leadership.

2001: Derailing Biological Weapons Conference

In 2001, John Bolton was instrumental in derailing a biological weapons conference in Geneva, arguing that a UN proposal would have jeopardized U.S. national security.

May 2002: "Beyond the Axis of Evil" Speech

In May 2002, John Bolton gave a speech entitled "Beyond the Axis of Evil", adding Cuba, Libya, and Syria to the list of rogue states.

2002: Accusation of Cuba

In 2002, John Bolton accused Cuba of having a secret biological weapons program and collaborating with Libya and Iran.

2002: Demanded Resignation of José Bustani

In 2002, John Bolton demanded the resignation of Brazilian José Bustani, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

2003: Alleged role in including statement in Bush's State of the Union Address

In 2003, Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman alleged that John Bolton played a role in encouraging the inclusion of the statement that British Intelligence had determined Iraq attempted to procure yellowcake uranium from Niger in Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address.

April 2004: Accusation of Cuba

In April 2004, John Bolton again accused Cuba of being a terrorist and (biological weapons) threat to the United States.

June 2004: Iran Lying About Enriched Uranium Contamination

In June 2004, John Bolton stated in congressional testimony that Iran was lying about enriched uranium contamination.

September 2004: Bush administration backed off claims

In September 2004, the Bush administration backed off claims that Cuba had an active biological weapons program.

April 12, 2005: Senate panel focuses on allegations that Bolton pressured intelligence analysts

On April 12, 2005, a Senate panel addressed allegations that John Bolton pressured intelligence analysts. Former State Department intelligence chief Carl W. Ford Jr. called Bolton a "serial abuser" and accused him of abusing his power and authority. Ford also contradicted Bolton's previous testimony, stating that he had been asked to fire an intelligence analyst because of what they had said and done.

May 2005: Newsweek reports allegations that Bolton's absence undercut the American position at the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Review Conference

In May 2005, Newsweek reported that the American position at the 7th Review Conference of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty had been undercut by John Bolton's absence during his nomination fight, according to anonymous sources.

May 26, 2005: Senate Democrats postpone vote on Bolton's UN nomination

On May 26, 2005, Senate Democrats postponed the vote on John Bolton's UN nomination due to the Republican leadership's failure to pass a cloture motion. Democrats claimed the Bush administration was withholding key documents related to Bolton's career at the Department of State.

June 20, 2005: Senate vote on cloture for Bolton's nomination fails

On June 20, 2005, the Senate voted on cloture for John Bolton's nomination, but it failed by six votes. Senator Voinovich switched his vote, urging President Bush to pick another nominee. Later, Voinovich recanted and stated that if Bolton were renominated, he would support the nomination.

July 28, 2005: Bolton statement to Senate revealed to be false

On July 28, 2005, it was revealed that John Bolton had made a false statement on forms submitted to the Senate. Bolton indicated that he hadn't been questioned in any investigation in the prior five years, but he had been interviewed by the State Department's Inspector General as part of an investigation into the sources of pre-war claims of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

August 2005: IAEA Concluded

At their August 2005 meeting the IAEA's Board of Governors concluded: "Based on the information currently available to the Agency, the results of that analysis tend, on balance, to support Iran's statement about the foreign origin of most of the observed HEU [highly enriched uranium] contamination."

July 27, 2006: New confirmation hearing held for Bolton's U.N. ambassadorship

On July 27, 2006, a new confirmation hearing was held for John Bolton's nomination as U.N. ambassador, aiming to complete the process before his recess appointment's expiration. Voinovich, who previously opposed Bolton, had changed his stance and believed that Bolton was doing a "good job" as UN ambassador.

2007: Interview about decision to avoid Vietnam

In a 2007 interview, John Bolton explained his comment in the Yale reunion book saying his decision to avoid service in Vietnam was because "by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from."

2008: Campaigning against EU Integration

In 2008, John Bolton campaigned in Ireland against further EU integration, and criticized the Treaty of Lisbon for expanding EU powers.

July 2013: Identified as Member of Groundswell

In July 2013, John Bolton was identified as a key member of Groundswell, a secretive coalition of right-wing activists and journalists.

2013: Chairman of Gatestone Institute

In 2013, John Bolton became chairman of the far-right anti-Muslim Gatestone Institute.

December 2016: Bolton questions US Intelligence Community's conclusion of Russian interference in 2016 election

In December 2016, John Bolton suggested that the United States Intelligence Community's conclusion that Russian hackers intervened to help elect Donald Trump in 2016 may have been a "false flag" operation. He also criticized the Obama administration's retaliatory sanctions as insufficient.

April 2018: Bolton presses Trump to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal

In April 2018, John Bolton pressed President Trump to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

May 8, 2018: Bolton removes Timothy Ziemer and dissolves Global Health Security team

On May 8, 2018, John Bolton removed Timothy Ziemer and dissolved his Global Health Security team formerly on the NSC, leaving the administration's preparation for and ability to respond to pandemics unclear.

May 2018: Called for Termination of Iran Nuclear Deal

In May 2018, John Bolton repeatedly called for the termination of the Iran nuclear deal, from which the U.S. withdrew.

September 10, 2018: Bolton criticizes the International Criminal Court in his first major address as National Security Advisor

On September 10, 2018, John Bolton criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating it lacks checks and balances, exercises jurisdiction over crimes with disputed definitions, and has failed to deter atrocity crimes. He deemed the ICC a threat to "American sovereignty and U.S. national security."

August 2019: Bolton's Book Reveals Trump's Stance on Ukraine Aid

In August 2019, according to The New York Times, Bolton wrote in his forthcoming book that President Trump said he wanted to continue freezing Ukraine aid until investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens, were pursued.

September 10, 2019: Conflicting accounts emerge regarding Bolton's departure from the White House

On September 10, 2019, President Trump claimed he had told Bolton his services were no longer needed and that Bolton resigned. Bolton contradicted Trump, stating he had offered to resign on September 9. The White House endorsed Trump's account. Bolton later told the media Trump "never asked" for his resignation "directly or indirectly", and that he had both offered to resign and actually resigned of his own accord.

November 7, 2019: Refusal to Testify in Trump Impeachment Inquiry

On November 7, 2019, John Bolton refused to attend his scheduled deposition in the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump and threatened legal action if subpoenaed, stating he would only testify if a federal court ruled on a lawsuit by his former deputy.

January 6, 2020: Bolton Announces Willingness to Testify

On January 6, 2020, John Bolton announced in a written statement obtained by NBC News that he would testify during the Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed, requiring a 51-vote majority from the Senate to obtain the subpoena.

January 28, 2020: Bolton's Claims Dismissed as Inadmissible

On January 28, 2020, Trump's impeachment lawyer, Jay Sekulow, dismissed Bolton's claims from his leaked book contents as "inadmissible" before the Senate, while Democratic trial manager Adam Schiff remarked that Sekulow's assertion validated the argument that Bolton should be called to testify.

June 16, 2020: Trump Justice Department Attempts to Block Publication of Memoir

On June 16, 2020, the Trump Justice Department attempted to block publication of Bolton's memoir, The Room Where It Happened, seeking to confiscate Bolton's $2 million advance for breach of contract.

The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir

Check it on Amazon

2020: White House Slow-Walking Book Review Process

In 2020, it was asserted that the White House was slow-walking the review process of Bolton's book to prevent its release during the election campaign, with Trump claiming the book contained classified information but also characterizing it as fiction.

June 2021: Justice Department Drops Criminal Inquiry

In June 2021, the Justice Department dropped its criminal inquiry of Bolton and moved to end efforts to confiscate proceeds from his book.

July 2022: Admits to Involvement in Planning Coups d'état

In July 2022, John Bolton admitted to his personal involvement in planning unspecified coups d'état in foreign countries during an interview with CNN reporter Jake Tapper.

August 10, 2022: Iranian national charged in plot to murder Bolton

On August 10, 2022, Shahram Poursafi, an Iranian national and member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was charged by the United States Department of Justice for his involvement in an October 2021 plot to allegedly murder John Bolton, likely as retaliation for the January 2020 death of Qasem Soleimani.

2023: Criticism of Trump in Memoirs

In a 2023 edition of his memoirs, Bolton criticizes Trump as a man who punishes "personal enemies and appease[s] adversaries Russia and China".

January 20, 2025: Protective detail rescinded

On January 20, 2025, after President Trump returned to office, the United States Secret Service protective detail that had been granted to John Bolton in response to the Iranian murder plot was rescinded.