WASHINGTON – United States President Donald Trump dismissed John Bolton, his third National Security Adviser, after a contentious debate about Afghan peace talks became the latest of many disputes over foreign policy, according to sources.
For months, Mr. Trump defended Mr. Bolton’s more aggressive views, saying he valued diversity of opinion. But after Mr. Bolton disagreed with the president’s interest in striking a peace deal in Afghanistan—including a plan to meet last weekend with Taliban and Afghan leaders at Camp David that was ultimately canceled—Mr. Trump made it clear he had had enough, as The Wall Street Journal reported.
“I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” Trump wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning. “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.”
I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019
Last week, Trump “called off peace negotiations” and cancelled meeting “major Taliban leaders” and, separately, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, amid heighten security tensions and successive attacks by Taliban against his forces and civilians in Afghanistan.
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