John Bolton: Putin was ‘waiting’ for possible US withdrawal from NATO | TheHill – The Hill

Former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonBarr becomes latest former ally to escalate feud with Trump Forget the critics, listen to Trump and consider his role models John Bolton: Putin was 'waiting' for possible US withdrawal from NATO MORE said on Friday that he believes Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinOvernight Defense & National Security More troops dispatched to Europe amid crisis On The Money Biden faces pressure to ban Russian oil Gas prices spike as support for Russian oil ban grows MORE was waiting for a possible United States withdrawal from NATO, claiming former President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump calls Barr a 'Bushie' who went to the other side Gas prices spike as support for Russian oil ban grows Barr becomes latest former ally to escalate feud with Trump MORE would have likely made such a move had he been reelected.

Bolton,during a Washington Post Live event,was asked about his memoir, in which heclaimedthat Trump wanted to leave the military alliance in 2018. The newspapers Opinions Editor-at-Large Michael Duffy asked him how closeTrump was to withdrawingthe United Statesfrom NATO.

Yeah, I had my heart in my throat at that NATO meeting. I didn't know what the president would do. He called me up to his seat seconds before he gave his speech. And I said, 'Look, go right up to the line, but don't go over it,' Bolton replied.

I sat back down, I had no idea what hed do. I thought hed put his foot over it, but at least he didn't withdraw then," he continued. "In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO, and I think Putin was waiting for that."

Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump, knocked Boltons comments.

"John Bolton is only happy when America is at war. President Trump led America into one of the most peaceful times in U.S. history, which included growing investment into NATO by $50 billion," he said in a statement. "John Bolton is just mad he was fired before it could be spent."

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiMenendez slams Biden administration over reported oil talks with Venezuela Gas prices spike as support for Russian oil ban grows Overnight Health Care Florida sets off COVID-19 vaccine firestorm MORE, who was asked aboutBolton's remarks during a press briefing on Friday, claimed most Americans were grateful that President BidenJoe Biden'Batman' scene criticized for portraying subway attack on Asian man GAO says 114 Capitol Police officers reported injuries on Jan. 6 Trump calls Barr a 'Bushie' who went to the other side MOREs approach to global engagement is different than Trump's.

I saw those comments you know, another reason why the American people are grateful the majority of the American people that President Biden has not taken a page out of his predecessors playbook as it relates to global engagement and global leadership, because, certainly, we could be in a different place, she said.

Updated at 9:15 a.m.

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John Bolton: Putin was 'waiting' for possible US withdrawal from NATO | TheHill - The Hill