History of John Bolton in Timeline
John Bolton is an American attorney, diplomat, and political commentator, known for his hawkish foreign policy views. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and as the National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Bolton is a Republican consultant and has been a controversial figure due to his strong advocacy for interventionist foreign policies and skepticism towards international organizations and treaties. His tenure in government has been marked by significant policy debates and public attention.
1926: Notes on Democracy published
In 1926, Notes on Democracy was published.
1930: I'll Take My Stand published
In 1930, I'll Take My Stand was published.
1941: The Managerial Revolution published
In 1941, The Managerial Revolution was published.
1945: Birth of Gretchen Smith Bolton
In 1945, Gretchen Smith Bolton, who would later marry John Bolton, was born in Kansas City.
November 20, 1948: John Bolton's Birth
On November 20, 1948, John Robert Bolton II was born. He would later become an American attorney, diplomat, Republican consultant, and political commentator.
1948: Ideas Have Consequences published
In 1948, Ideas Have Consequences was published.
1951: God and Man at Yale published
In 1951, God and Man at Yale was published.
1953: The Conservative Mind published
In 1953, The Conservative Mind was published.
1960: The Conscience of a Conservative published
In 1960, The Conscience of a Conservative was published.
1964: A Choice Not an Echo published
In 1964, A Choice Not an Echo was published.
1964: Students For Goldwater Campaign
In 1964, John Bolton ran the school's Students For Goldwater campaign.
1966: Graduation from McDonogh School
In 1966, John Bolton graduated from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.
1967: Bolton's View on the Annexation of West Bank Settlements
John Bolton supports what he calls the "Three State Solution" in order to determine the political status of Gaza and the West Bank. Under Bolton's Three State Solution, Israel would annex settlements it has built in the West Bank since the conclusion of the Six-Days War in 1967.
November 1970: Active Duty Training
From July to November 1970, John Bolton attended Active Duty for Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
1970: Graduation from Yale College
In 1970, John Bolton graduated summa cum laude from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
1971: Attended Yale Law School
In 1971, John Bolton started attending Yale Law School.
1972: Bolton's First Marriage
In 1972, John Bolton married Christina Bolton; they later divorced in 1983.
1972: Summer Intern for Spiro Agnew
In 1972, John Bolton worked as a summer intern for Vice President Spiro Agnew.
1972: Biological Weapons Convention
In 2001, John Bolton was instrumental in derailing a 2001 biological weapons conference in Geneva convened to endorse a UN proposal to enforce the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.
1973: Divorce of Gretchen Smith Bolton
In 1973, Gretchen Smith Bolton divorced her first husband.
1974: Associate at Covington & Burling
From 1974 to 1981, John Bolton was an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Covington & Burling.
1974: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
In 1974, John Bolton earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
1979: MEK Opposed Iranian State Since Shortly After Revolution
The People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) has opposed the Iranian theocratic state since shortly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
1981: End of First Tenure at Covington & Burling
In 1981, John Bolton's first tenure as an associate at Covington & Burling came to an end.
1983: Return to Covington & Burling
From 1983 to 1985, John Bolton returned to the firm Covington & Burling.
1983: Executive Director at Republican National Committee
In 1983, Bolton became the executive director of the Committee on Resolutions in the Republican National Committee.
1983: Bolton's Divorce from Christina Bolton
In 1983, John Bolton divorced Christina Bolton, whom he had married in 1972.
1984: Executive Director at Republican National Committee
In 1984, Bolton was the executive director of the Committee on Resolutions in the Republican National Committee.
1985: Assistant Attorney General
In 1985, John Bolton served as a United States assistant attorney general for President Ronald Reagan.
1985: End of Second Tenure at Covington & Burling
In 1985, John Bolton's second tenure at Covington & Burling came to an end.
January 1986: Bolton's Marriage to Gretchen Smith Bolton
In January 1986, John Bolton married Gretchen Smith Bolton, a financial planner with AXA Advisors. She was born in Kansas City in 1945 and had been married once before, divorcing in 1973. Together they have a daughter, Jennifer, and have resided in Bethesda, Maryland since 1986.
1987: A Conflict of Visions and The Closing of the American Mind published
In 1987, A Conflict of Visions and The Closing of the American Mind were published.
1989: Assistant Secretary of State
In 1989, John Bolton began serving in the State Department as the assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs.
1993: Partner at Lerner, Reed, Bolton & McManus
From 1993 to 1999, John Bolton was a partner in the law firm of Lerner, Reed, Bolton & McManus.
1993: End of Service as Assistant Secretary of State
In 1993, John Bolton's service as the assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs came to an end.
1994: Bolton's View on the United Nations
In 1994, John Bolton expressed a dismissive view of the United Nations, stating, "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."
1997: Senior Vice President at American Enterprise Institute
From 1997 to 2001, Bolton was senior vice president of the American Enterprise Institute.
1997: Assistant to James Baker & Contributor to The Weekly Standard
In 1997, Bolton worked as an assistant to James Baker and became a contributor to The Weekly Standard, an American conservative opinion magazine.
1998: Signatory to Letter Urging Removal of Saddam Hussein
In 1998, John Bolton signed a letter to President Bill Clinton urging the removal of Saddam Hussein from power through the use of U.S. diplomatic, political, and military force.
1999: End of Partnership at Lerner, Reed, Bolton & McManus
In 1999, John Bolton's partnership at Lerner, Reed, Bolton & McManus came to an end.
May 2000: José Bustani Re-elected
Brazilian José Bustani had been unanimously re-elected for a four-year term with strong U.S. support in May 2000.
2000: Assistant to James Baker
In 2000, Bolton worked as an assistant to James Baker when he was the UN Secretary-General envoy to the Western Sahara and also contributed to The Weekly Standard.
2000: Described Himself as a "Convinced Americanist"
In a 2000 article in the Chicago Journal of International Law, John Bolton described himself as a "convinced Americanist", favoring it over what he described as "globalism".
May 11, 2001: Sworn in as Under Secretary of State
On May 11, 2001, John Bolton was sworn in as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
2001: Colin Powell praised José Bustani
In 2001 Brazilian José Bustani was praised for his leadership by Colin Powell.
2001: End of Role at American Enterprise Institute
In 2001, Bolton ceased being the senior vice president of the American Enterprise Institute.
2001: Under Secretary of State
In 2001, John Bolton began serving as the under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs.
2001: Derailing Biological Weapons Conference
In 2001, John Bolton was instrumental in derailing a biological weapons conference in Geneva.
2001: The Death of the West published
In 2001, The Death of the West was published.
2002: Orchestrated Removal of José Bustani
In 2002, John Bolton is said to have orchestrated the removal of Brazilian José Bustani, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
2003: Alleged Role in Bush's State of the Union Address
In 2003, Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman alleged that 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 as a Terrorist and Biological Weapons Threat
In April 2004, John Bolton again accused Cuba of being a terrorist and biological weapons threat to the United States.
June 2004: Congressional Testimony on Iran
In June 2004 congressional testimony, John Bolton stated that Iran was lying about enriched uranium contamination.
March 7, 2005: Nomination as UN Ambassador
On March 7, 2005, John Bolton was nominated by President George W. Bush to the post of United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
April 11, 2005: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Review
On April 11, 2005, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reviewed John Bolton's qualifications where Bolton said he and his colleagues "view the U.N. as an important component of our diplomacy".
April 12, 2005: Senate panel focuses on allegations that Bolton pressured intelligence analysts
On April 12, 2005, the Senate panel focused on allegations that 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.
May 26, 2005: Senate Democrats postpone vote on Bolton's UN nomination
On May 26, 2005, Senate Democrats postponed the vote on Bolton's UN nomination due to withheld documents from the Bush administration, marking the "first filibuster of the year."
June 20, 2005: Senate vote on cloture fails
On June 20, 2005, the Senate vote on cloture regarding Bolton's nomination failed, falling six votes short of ending debate. Senator Voinovich switched his previous "yes" vote and urged President Bush to pick another nominee.
July 28, 2005: Bolton's statement to the Senate found false
On July 28, 2005, it was revealed that Bolton made a false statement on forms submitted to the Senate, indicating he hadn't been questioned in any investigation in the prior five years when he had been interviewed by the State Department's Inspector General. The State Department later reversed itself, claiming Bolton had simply forgotten about the investigation.
August 1, 2005: Recess Appointment as UN Ambassador
On August 1, 2005, John Bolton was recess-appointed to the post of United States Ambassador to the United Nations due to a Democratic filibuster.
August 2005: IAEA Board of Governors Conclusion
At their August 2005 meeting, the IAEA's Board of Governors concluded that the results of analysis tended, on balance, to support Iran's statement about the foreign origin of most of the observed highly enriched uranium contamination.
August 2005: U.S. Ambassador to the UN
In August 2005, John Bolton became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, appointed by President George W. Bush.
2005: Limited role in Libya WMD agreement
In 2005, John Bolton's involvement in the agreement with Libya to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction program was intentionally limited, with reports suggesting he was kept unaware of key developments until shortly before the public announcement.
2005: End of Service as Under Secretary of State
In 2005, John Bolton's service as the under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs ended.
February 2006: Voinovich amends his views
In February 2006, Voinovich, who had previously stood in opposition to Bolton, amended his views and determined that Bolton was doing a "good job" as UN ambassador.
July 27, 2006: New confirmation hearing held
On July 27, 2006, a new confirmation hearing was held for Bolton in the hope of completing the process before the expiration of Bolton's recess appointment at the end of the 109th Congress.
November 9, 2006: Bush Sent Nomination for Bolton to Continue as UN Representative
On November 9, 2006, President Bush sent the nomination for Bolton to continue as representative for the United States at the UN after losing both houses to a Democratic majority.
December 4, 2006: Bolton announces he will terminate his work as U.S. representative to the UN
On December 4, 2006, Bolton announced that he would terminate his work as U.S. representative to the UN at the end of the recess appointment and would not continue to seek confirmation. His resignation was accepted on December 4, 2006, effective when his recess appointment ended.
December 2006: Resignation as U.S. Ambassador to the UN
In December 2006, John Bolton stepped down as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
2006: Returns to American Enterprise Institute
After leaving the George W. Bush Administration in 2006, Bolton returned to the American Enterprise Institute as a Senior Fellow.
2006: Attempted Prosecution of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
In 2006, John Bolton, along with Alan Dershowitz, Dore Gold, and other experts, attempted to bring prosecution against Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the International Court of Justice for incitement to genocide, based on Ahmadinejad's comments that "Israel must be wiped off the map".
2006: Fox News Contributor and Senior Fellow at AEI
Since 2006, Bolton has been a paid Fox News contributor and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
2007: Declared Himself a "Goldwater Conservative"
In 2007, John Bolton stated in an interview with the Financial Times that he was a "Goldwater conservative," distinguishing himself from being a neoconservative.
2007: Bolton's View on Iraq War Mistake
In 2007, John Bolton stated that the United States' only mistake regarding Iraq was not withdrawing earlier after Saddam Hussein's overthrow, suggesting they should have left the Iraqis with a copy of the Federalist Papers.
2007: Publication of Surrender Is Not an Option
In his 2007 book, Surrender Is Not an Option, John Bolton described his perception of the Vietnam war as a "futile struggle".
2008: Bolton Opposed Kosovo's Declaration of Independence
During 2008, John Bolton voiced his opposition to the declaration of independence by Kosovo.
2008: Of Counsel at Kirkland & Ellis
From 2008 until his appointment as National Security Advisor in 2018, John Bolton was of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis.
2008: Bolton Campaigned Against EU Integration in Ireland
In 2008, John Bolton campaigned in Ireland against further EU integration, expressing his opposition to the expansion of EU powers through the Treaty of Lisbon.
2010: Director, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies for AEI
From 2010 until 2018, Bolton served as Director, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies for AEI.
2010: Co-founded the Friends of Israel Initiative
In 2010, John Bolton co-founded the Friends of Israel Initiative with 12 other international figures, demonstrating his strong support for Israel.
2010: Bolton Writes Foreword for "The Post-American Presidency"
In 2010, John Bolton wrote a foreword for the book "The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America" by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, endorsing their critique of Barack Obama.
December 31, 2010: Featured on National Review Magazine Cover
On December 31, 2010, Bolton received attention in conservative circles, including the cover of National Review magazine.
September 2011: Decision Not to Run for President in 2012
In September 2011, Bolton announced he would not run for president in 2012.
September 2011: Bolton on the Death of Anwar al-Awlaki
In September 2011, following the Obama administration's announcement of the death of Al Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, John Bolton cautioned against overstating the significance of individual terrorist deaths, comparing it to overestimating the impact of Vladimir Lenin's death on the Bolsheviks in the 1920s.
January 2012: Endorsement of Mitt Romney
In January 2012, Bolton endorsed Mitt Romney for the 2012 Republican nomination.
December 2012: Bolton Suggests Clinton Faked Concussion
In December 2012, John Bolton suggested that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had faked a concussion to avoid testifying before Congress regarding the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, referring to it as a "diplomatic illness".
2012: Major Donors to John Bolton Super PAC
From 2012 to 2016, Robert Mercer was a major donor to the John Bolton Super PAC.
2012: Considered Presidential Run
In 2012, Bolton considered running for president in the U.S. presidential election.
2012: Foreign Policy Advisor
In 2012, John Bolton was a foreign policy advisor to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
2012: Speaking in Favor of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK)
Prior to it being de-listed by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2012, Bolton spoke in favor of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the Mujahedin-e Khalq, or MEK).
July 2013: Identified as Key Member of Groundswell
In July 2013, Bolton was identified as a key member of Groundswell, a secretive coalition of right-wing activists and journalists attempting to advance political change behind the scenes through lobbying of high-level contacts.
2013: Chairman of Gatestone Institute
From 2013 until March 2018, Bolton was chairman of the far-right anti-Muslim Gatestone Institute.
2013: John Bolton Super PAC Set Up
In 2013, Bolton set up the John Bolton Super PAC.
2013: Bolton on Edward Snowden
In 2013, after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was granted asylum in Russia, John Bolton suggested causing pain to Putin to influence his thinking. He also accused Snowden of treason and said he "ought to swing from a tall oak tree".
2014: Contributor to The Weekly Standard
From 2014, Bolton contributed to The Weekly Standard, an American conservative opinion magazine.
2014: Raised Money for Republican Candidates
In 2014, the John Bolton Super PAC raised $11.3 million for Republican candidates in the 2014 and 2016 elections.
2014: Payments to Cambridge Analytica
Since 2014, the John Bolton Super PAC had paid Cambridge Analytica more than $1.1 million for "research" and "survey research".
September 2015: Senior Advisor at Freedom Capital Investment Management
In September 2015, Freedom Capital Investment Management appointed John Bolton as a senior advisor.
September 2016: Super PAC Spending on Burr's Reelection
In September 2016, Bolton announced that his Super PAC would spend $1 million on Senator Richard Burr's reelection effort.
December 1, 2016: Bolton admits being considered as Secretary of State
On December 1, 2016, Bolton admitted on Fox News' Fox and Friends that he was being considered as a Secretary of State candidate for the incoming Trump administration.
December 2016: Bolton questions U.S. Intelligence Community conclusion on Russian hacking
In December 2016, Bolton said the conclusion of the United States Intelligence Community that Russian hackers had intervened to help elect Donald Trump in 2016 may have been a "false flag" operation.
2016: Major Donors to John Bolton Super PAC
From 2012 to 2016, Robert Mercer was a major donor to the John Bolton Super PAC, Bernard Marcus, and Los Angeles real estate developer Geoffrey Palmer.
2016: Bolton Praised the UK's Brexit Vote
In 2016, John Bolton praised the United Kingdom's referendum vote to leave the European Union.
2016: Received $40,000 for Speech to MEK
In 2016, John Bolton was paid $40,000 for a speech he gave to the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK).
2016: Payments to Cambridge Analytica and spending for Republican candidates
In the 2016 presidential election, Cambridge Analytica was paid more than $811,000 by the John Bolton Super PAC; the Super PAC spent around $2.5 million in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidates.
2016: Contributor to The Weekly Standard
Until 2016, Bolton contributed to The Weekly Standard, an American conservative opinion magazine.
February 2017: Bolton interviewed for National Security Advisor position
In February 2017 President Trump interviewed Bolton and three others to determine who would fill the position of National Security Advisor vacated by Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn.
June 1, 2017: Bolton's Speaking Fee for European Iranian Events
On June 1, 2017, John Bolton received $40,000 as a speaking fee for "Global Events–European Iranian Events," which coincided with a speech he made for the MEK in Paris, France.
June 2017: Bolton Called Russian Interference an Act of War
In a June 2017 article, John Bolton called Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections "a true act of war".
August 28, 2017: Bolton Published Proposal on Withdrawing from Iran Deal
On August 28, 2017, John Bolton published his proposal on how to withdraw from the Iran deal in a National Review Online article, as he was unable to directly present his position to President Trump at the time.
2017: Testified on Moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem
In 2017, John Bolton testified before Congress in support of moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, in accordance with the Jerusalem Embassy Act.
2017: The Benedict Option published
In 2017, The Benedict Option was published.
2017: Bolton's Income in 2017
In 2018, the White House reported that Bolton's total income for 2017 had been $2.2 million which included $569,000 from Fox News and $747,000 in speaking fees from, among others, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation (a Ukrainian NGO), Deutsche Bank, and HSBC.
January 2018: Advertising Campaign for Kevin Nicholson
In January 2018, Bolton announced a $1 million advertising campaign in support of Kevin Nicholson's bid for the Republican nomination to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin; the Super PAC ran an ad campaign in the Green Bay area.
March 6, 2018: Bolton seen at White House
On the evening of March 6, 2018, Bolton was seen at the White House, presumably to be interviewed as a candidate for national security adviser.
March 2018: Appointment as National Security Advisor
In March 2018, Bolton was appointed National Security Advisor, and the John Bolton Super PAC and the John Bolton PAC announced the temporary suspension of their political activities, effective March 31, 2018.
March 2018: Bolton Suggested South Korea Take North Korea
In March 2018, John Bolton suggested that South Korea should take over North Korea and terminate the North Korean regime as the only "diplomatic option", stating that the war between the two countries is their problem, not the United States'.
March 2018: Bolton Advocated for Regime Change in Iran
In March 2018, speaking to a meeting of Iranian exile group Mujahedin-e-Khalq, John Bolton said the Trump administration should pursue regime change in Iran and that "before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran!"
March 2018: End of Chairmanship of Gatestone Institute
Until March 2018, Bolton was chairman of the far-right anti-Muslim Gatestone Institute, which is prominent for disseminating false anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim information.
March 19, 2018: Television and Radio Ad Campaign in Milwaukee
On March 19, 2018, the John Bolton Super PAC announced a two-week $278,000 television and radio ad campaign in the Milwaukee area.
March 22, 2018: Bolton to replace McMaster as National Security Adviser
On March 22, 2018, it was reported that John Bolton would replace National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster, which was confirmed by Trump in a tweet later that day.
March 31, 2018: Suspension of Political Activities
On March 31, 2018, the John Bolton Super PAC and the John Bolton PAC announced the temporary suspension of their political activities.
April 9, 2018: Bolton begins his position as National Security Advisor
On April 9, 2018, Bolton officially began his position as National Security Advisor.
April 10, 2018: Tom Bossert Resigns and Nadia Schadlow Resigns
On April 10, 2018, Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert resigned at Bolton's request, and deputy national security adviser Nadia Schadlow also resigned.
April 2018: Bolton presses Trump to withdraw from Iran Nuclear Deal
In April 2018, Bolton pressed President Trump to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, which Trump did a month later.
April 2018: National Security Advisor
In April 2018, John Bolton became the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump.
April 2018: Bolton Named National Security Advisor
In April 2018, John Bolton was named to succeed H.R. McMaster as National Security Advisor, after which he pressed President Trump to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.
May 8, 2018: Bolton removed Timothy Ziemer and dissolved his Global Health Security team
On May 8, 2018, Bolton removed Timothy Ziemer and dissolved his Global Health Security team formerly on the NSC leaving the administration's high level preparation for and ability to respond to pandemics, infectious disease, and other biological threats 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.
May 2018: Estimated Payment to Bolton by MEK
In May 2018, journalist Joanne Stocker estimated that John Bolton had been paid "on the low-end, $180,000" by the MEK, though Bolton's office declined to comment on the matter.
July 2018: Bolton Referred to Investigation into Russian Interference as "Russia Witch Hunt"
In July 2018, as Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton referred to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections as "the Russia witch hunt".
September 10, 2018: Bolton criticizes the International Criminal Court
On September 10, 2018, Bolton criticized the International Criminal Court, calling it a threat to "American sovereignty and U.S. national security." He threatened to bar ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the U.S. and sanction their funds.
September 2018: NSC personnel significantly reduced
In September 2018, it was reported that Bolton had significantly shrunk the number of NSC personnel, cutting it to under 300.
November 1, 2018: Bolton Praises Bolsonaro and Duque, Criticizes Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua
On November 1, 2018, as National Security Advisor, John Bolton praised Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro and Colombia's president Iván Duque Márquez as "like-minded" partners. He also framed Bolsonaro's election victory as a "positive sign" for Latin America and criticized Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua as a "troika of tyranny."
November 2018: Bolton comments on Khashoggi assassination audio
In November 2018, Bolton said that an audio recording related to the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi did not prove that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder.
2018: Unlawful Transmission and Retention of National Defense Information
Between 2018 and 2025, John Bolton committed unlawful transmission and retention of national defense information.
2018: Bolton Continued to Support Iraq Invasion
By 2018, John Bolton continued to express his support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime.
2018: End of role as Director, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies for AEI
In 2018, Bolton's role as Director, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies for AEI ended.
2018: Remarks on China's Intellectual Property Theft
In 2018, John Bolton commented on China's notoriety regarding intellectual property, stating that there was "simply no excuse for the stealing of intellectual property, forced technology transfers it's sometimes called."
2018: Bolton Criticized Washington's One-China Policy
In 2018, John Bolton criticized Washington's One-China policy, under which Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is not recognized as an independent nation, with recognition being given only to the People's Republic of China.
2018: Bolton on Regimes That Lie About Agreements
In 2018, John Bolton stated that Russia, China, Syria, Iran, and North Korea are regimes that make agreements and lie about them, and that a national security policy based on the faith that such regimes will honor their commitments is doomed to failure. He also said, "Our goal should be regime change in Iran."
2018: End of Counsel at Kirkland & Ellis
In 2018, John Bolton's time of counsel at Kirkland & Ellis came to an end when he became National Security Advisor.
2018: Why Liberalism Failed published
In 2018, Why Liberalism Failed was published.
January 2019: Bolton Advocated for a Hard Brexit
In January 2019, it was reported that John Bolton continued to advocate for a hard Brexit in his role as National Security Advisor.
August 2019: President Trump Freezing Ukraine Aid
In August 2019, according to Bolton's forthcoming book, President Trump allegedly told Bolton that he wanted to continue freezing aid to Ukraine until officials there pursued investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens.
September 10, 2019: Bolton resigns as National Security Advisor
On September 10, 2019, President Trump claimed he told Bolton his "services are no longer needed", leading to Bolton's resignation. However, Bolton contradicted Trump's account, stating he offered to resign on September 9. The White House endorsed Trump's version of the events.
September 2019: Departure as National Security Advisor
In September 2019, John Bolton's tenure as National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump ended.
November 7, 2019: Refusal to Attend Impeachment Deposition
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 wanted a federal court to rule on a lawsuit by his former deputy before testifying.
December 2019: Submission of The Room Where It Happened for Security Review
In December 2019, Bolton submitted his memoir, The Room Where It Happened, for security review.
2019: Bolton Sabotaged Trump's Diplomatic Efforts with Iran
In 2019, John Bolton, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, successfully sabotaged President Trump's attempts to open diplomatic channels with Iran.
2019: Bolton's Prediction of Celebrating in Tehran
In March 2018, John Bolton told a meeting of Iranian exile group Mujahedin-e-Khalq that the Trump administration should pursue regime change in Iran and that "before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran!"
January 3, 2020: Bolton's Reaction to Soleimani's Killing
On January 3, 2020, following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, John Bolton tweeted that it was a "decisive blow" against Iran's activities and expressed hope that it would be the first step toward regime change in Tehran.
January 6, 2020: Announcement to Testify if Subpoenaed
On January 6, 2020, Bolton announced in a written statement obtained by NBC News that he would testify during the Senate impeachment trial if issued a subpoena, requiring a 51-vote majority from the Senate.
January 2020: Death of Qasem Soleimani
In January 2020, Qasem Soleimani died, which may have motivated the October 2021 plot to allegedly murder Bolton.
January 28, 2020: Trump impeachment lawyer Jay Sekulow dismissing Bolton's claims
On January 28, 2020, Trump impeachment lawyer Jay Sekulow dismissed Bolton's claims as "inadmissible" when he argued before the Senate in defense of Trump. Democratic trial manager Adam Schiff later remarked that Sekulow's assertion validated the argument that Bolton should be called to testify.
June 16, 2020: Justice Department Attempt 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.
2020: White House Allegedly Slow-Walking Review Process
In 2020, Bolton's attorney asserted that the White House was slow-walking the review process to prevent the book, which contained extensive harsh criticism of Trump, from being released during the 2020 election campaign.
2020: Publication of "The Room Where It Happened"
In 2020, John Bolton published "The Room Where It Happened", a best-selling book about his time in the Trump administration.
January 20, 2021: China Imposes Sanctions Against Bolton
On January 20, 2021, the Chinese government imposed sanctions against John Bolton and 27 other Trump administration officials for allegedly interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China-U.S. relations. The sanctions included a ban from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and restrictions on business dealings with associated companies and institutions.
October 2021: Murder Plot Against Bolton
In October 2021, Shahram Poursafi, an Iranian national and member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plotted to allegedly murder Bolton, likely in retaliation for the January 2020 death of Qasem Soleimani.
2021: Justice Department Drops Criminal Inquiry
In 2021, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department had dropped its criminal inquiry of Bolton in June of that year and moved to end efforts to confiscate proceeds from his book.
July 2022: Admission of Involvement in Planning Coups d'état
In July 2022, during an interview with CNN, John Bolton admitted to his personal involvement in planning unspecified coups d'état in foreign countries.
August 10, 2022: Iranian National Charged in Plot to Murder Bolton
On August 10, 2022, an Iranian national, Shahram Poursafi, was charged by the United States Department of Justice in connection to an October 2021 plot to allegedly murder John Bolton, potentially in retaliation for the January 2020 death of Qasem Soleimani.
March 2023: Bolton Defended the Decision to Invade Iraq
In March 2023, John Bolton defended the decision to invade Iraq, asserting that there were concerns about Saddam Hussein pursuing nuclear weapons and providing them to terrorist groups.
July 6, 2023: Bolton Hailed Decision to Provide Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
On July 6, 2023, John Bolton praised U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to approve the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, calling it "an excellent idea".
December 2023: Bolton Proposed Resettling Palestinians from Gaza
In December 2023, John Bolton proposed resettling Palestinians from Gaza.
2023: Criticism of Donald Trump in Memoirs
In 2023, Bolton's memoirs were published, containing harsh criticism of Donald Trump, accusing him of punishing personal enemies and appeasing adversaries like Russia and China.
April 2024: Bolton on the Gaza War as an Iranian War
In April 2024, John Bolton characterized the Gaza war as "an Iranian war against Israel, fought through terrorist proxies" and argued that eliminating Hamas is the only way to end the suffering of the people of Gaza.
2024: Considered Running for President
Bolton had openly considered the idea of running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election in order to secure the Republican nomination against former President Donald Trump.
January 20, 2025: Bolton Loses Secret Service Protection
On January 20, 2025, after President Trump returned to office, John Bolton's protective detail from the United States Secret Service, which was granted following an alleged murder plot in October 2021, was rescinded.
July 2025: Bolton Suggested Algeria Offer Trump a Gift Regarding Western Sahara
In July 2025, John Bolton suggested that Algeria should offer Donald Trump a gift to persuade him to abandon American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the annexed Western Sahara.
August 22, 2025: FBI Raid on Bolton's Home
On August 22, 2025, FBI agents raided Bolton's home as part of a documents investigation, looking for classified materials.
September 2025: Bolton Criticizes Trump's Tariff on India
In September 2025, John Bolton criticized Trump's 50% tariff imposed on India over its trade with Russia, and questioned why similar measures weren’t applied to China, Turkey, or Pakistan. He also criticized Trump's claims about his role in peace between India and Pakistan after the 2025 Pahalgam Attack and the subsequent 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
October 2025: Indictment on Unlawful Transmission and Retention of National Defense Information
In October 2025, John Bolton was indicted on eight counts of unlawful transmission and ten counts of unlawful retention of national defense information between 2018 and 2025.
October 16, 2025: Indictment on 18 Charges
On October 16, 2025, Bolton was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Maryland on 18 charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, including counts of unlawful transmission and retention of national defense information.
October 17, 2025: Surrender to Authorities and Not Guilty Plea
On October 17, 2025, Bolton surrendered to authorities at a courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, and pled not guilty to the 18-count indictment brought against him.
2025: DOJ Criminal Investigation Gained Momentum
In 2025, The New York Times later reported that the DOJ's criminal investigation into Bolton had actually "gained momentum in the Biden administration."
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