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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 10 april 2018

Bolton takes the helm on national security at time of tumult

By JOSH LEDERMAN and aligned with that aide are
CATHERINE LUCEY often the next to go. There
WASHINGTON (AP) — The have been many such
U.S. military is bracing for a shake-ups, even in just
possible strike in Syria. Prep- the past few weeks. And
arations for a high-risk North Bolton, in his former jobs at
Korea summit are barreling the U.N. and at the State
forward. The White House Department, developed
staff is on edge, unsure a reputation as someone
who will be fired next, and who doesn't suffer fools qui-
when. And the national etly. Although it's unclear
security team is holding its whether Bolton will "clean
breath to see whether their house," two U.S officials
new leader will be a shock and two outside advisers to
to the system. the administration said that
Enter John Bolton, the pug- the White House has been
nacious former U.N. am- considering a significant
bassador who took over staff shake-up in the part of
Monday as President Don- the NSC that handles the
ald Trump's national secu- Middle East. That comes as
rity adviser — the third per- Trump prepares for a key
son to hold the job in barely decision next month on
14 months. Trump's selec- whether to withdraw from
tion of Bolton last month National security adviser John Bolton listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet the Iran nuclear deal, the
set off a guessing game in meeting at the White House, Monday, April 9, 2018, in Washington. 2015 accord that Bolton
Washington as to just how Associated Press has long derided.
much of an imprint his take- Before starting the job,
no-prisoners approach to jitters, he had little time to by Syria's government that he was spotted entering Bolton provided the White
foreign policy will have on indulge them. A daunt- led Trump to start exploring the White House over the House with names of staff-
Trump's team, already be- ing to-do list has awaited potential military retalia- weekend, carrying an um- ers he wanted to bring in,
leaguered and exhausted him, punctuated over the tion. brella as he strolled down but the list consisted mainly
after a tumultuous first year. weekend by a suspected Although Bolton didn't for- the driveway toward the of people associated with
If Bolton had any first-day chemical weapons attack mally start until Monday, West Wing on a rainy Sat- his political action commit-
urday. tee, The John Bolton Super
And on Monday, he ap- PAC, one individual with
peared at his first Cabinet knowledge of the list said.
meeting, where Trump All of the individuals weren't
talked up his forthcoming authorized to discuss inter-
meeting with North Korean nal White House delibera-
leader Kim Jong Un, chid- tions and requested ano-
ed China for taking advan- nymity.
tage of the United States It was unclear whether any
and condemned the "atro- of Bolton's favored candi-
cious" chemical attack in dates were being hired.
Syria. Bolton didn't speak, In recent months, Trump's
but was seated prominent- administration has increas-
ly behind Trump as report- ingly struggled to find quali-
ers were briefly allowed fied candidates who are
into the meeting. eligible for high-level se-
"I think he's going to be a curity clearance, are will-
fantastic representative of ing to join the White House
our team," Trump said later and haven't been disquali-
in the day. He pointed out fied for other reasons, such
the fact that Bolton was as past public criticism of
starting in the midst of an Trump.
urgent situation with Syria, Even before Bolton started,
adding: "Interesting day." rumors were circulating
Apprehension outside about potential exits on
the White House about the national security team.
Bolton's influence has been The night before Bolton
matched by hand-wring- started, Michael Anton, the
ing in the West Wing about National Security Council’s
whose fortunes will rise and spokesman and a public
fall in the Bolton era. face for the administration,
In Trump's reality-show-in- resigned.
fused White House, it's be- “Being on the White House
come a truism that when staff was fun,” Bolton wrote.
a powerful aide departs “But I wanted ‘line’ respon-
— like the chief of staff, na- sibility — to manage some-
tional security adviser or a thing and to change it, not
Cabinet secretary — oth- simply to be ‘staff,’ even at
ers who were considered the White House.”q