Special Poll
Former White House national security adviser John Bolton has raised doubts about former President Trump’s recounting of a conversation he claimed to have had with Russian President Vladimir Putin before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Trump, he warned Putin against invading, asserting that the Russian leader would have heeded his warning.
However, in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Bolton expressed skepticism about Trump’s version of events. Bolton, who served in the Trump administration until September 2019, stated that he never witnessed such a conversation during his time in the White House and suggested that Trump might be fabricating the story.
Bolton further commented that in his experience, Putin likely viewed Trump as someone who could be easily manipulated, particularly through flattery. He also expressed concern that if Trump were to mediate between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it could be detrimental to Ukraine, as he believes Putin would outmaneuver Trump. Bolton’s remarks highlight his ongoing criticism of Trump, especially given their history of disagreements, culminating in Bolton’s departure from the administration in 2019.