Bolton: Reagan 'turning over in his grave' as Trump declares 'peace through strength' foreign policy

06 March

John Bolton in May 2023 (Wikimedia Commons)

CNN’s John Berman on Thursday spoke with John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the UN and former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Union (EU) leaders met in Brussels to discuss Ukrainian security.

“The summit comes after President Trump put the brakes not only on military aid for Ukraine, but also key intelligence sharing," Berman reported, noting the White House is calling the president's Ukraine strategy "Peace Through Strength" — a nod to former President Ronald Reagan.

"What do you think of using that phrase to describe President Trump's policy toward Ukraine?” Berman asked Bolton.

“I think Ronald Reagan would be turning over in his grave,” Bolton said. “This isn't peace through strength. This is going over to the other side. Give Trump credit, he knows a good slogan when he hears it, but he's not pursuing it. He has made one concession after another to the Kremlin. I see this as weakness."

Berman also addressed the intelligence sharing pause.

“This takes a real toll, both on defensive operations and in terms of any offensive operations that Ukraine wants to pursue,” Bolton said.

“But I think the biggest casualty here is trust,” Bolton continued. “I think Zelenskyy has tried to make up with Trump but he will find there's no limit to kissing the ring that's required.”

Berman later asked Bolton about the “message to the international community” Trump is sending by imposing tariffs on major U.S. trading partners.

“I think it shows erratic, nearly irrational decision making on the president's part, ” Bolton replied.

Watch the interview below or at this link.

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