John Bolton Delivers Scathing Critique of Trump Administration's Security Structure
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, former National Security Adviser John Bolton has launched a blistering attack on the White House's current security apparatus, focusing particularly on Marco Rubio's unprecedented dual role as both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser.
The Rubio Dilemma: One Man Cannot Serve Two Masters
Bolton delivered a stark message regarding Rubio's consolidation of power, which began in May 2025 following the sudden departure of Mike Waltz. Waltz, who had served as national security adviser for just over 100 days, was reshuffled to become US Ambassador to the United Nations after a high-profile security blunder involving the 'signal' messaging app.
At the time, President Trump announced on Truth Social that Rubio, already confirmed as Secretary of State, would step in as the 'interim' National Security Adviser, though he emphasized this arrangement would be temporary.
'They're two very different jobs, and when you have one person trying to do both of them, it means that aspects of both are going to be inadequately treated,' Bolton told the Daily Mail. 'I think that's evident in a number of things that have happened in the second Trump term.'
While Bolton did not provide specific examples, he framed the issue as 'just a general collapse of coordinated decision-making and implementation.' His solution was characteristically blunt: 'Rubio should pick whichever role he wants and have somebody fill the other one.'
Iran Policy Under Fire
Bolton also turned his fire on the administration's approach to Iran, particularly criticizing reports that Vice President JD Vance could be dispatched to meet the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament at a summit brokered by Pakistan.
'If JD Vance is sent out to be the US negotiator... I think they're going to talk right past each other,' he scoffed. 'I don't see any discussions that could lead to an acceptable outcome. This is a conclusion now shared reportedly by the Gulf Arab states as well.'
Bolton charged that Vance would be focused more on his own political future than on US strategic imperatives. Vance's team did not respond to a Daily Mail request for comment.
Transactional Foreign Policy Draws Criticism
The hawkish diplomat tore into what he described as President Trump's transactional foreign policy, warning of imminent terror attacks on Western soil and slamming the chaotic state of Trump's National Security Council.
Bolton specifically targeted Trump's revelation at a cabinet meeting that Iran had offered the US a 'gift' of eight large boats of oil. 'I think it's the transactional side [of him]. He thinks this will help bring global oil prices down, which may result in a decrease of a few cents at the pump in the price per gallon of oil in America,' Bolton said. 'But if the purchasers of that oil are sending money to Tehran, then we are helping finance the regime's war against American service members, which is crazy.'
Instead of accepting the oil, Bolton argued the US needs to shut down Tehran's economic lifeline entirely. 'I think if no Gulf Arab oil is leaving, going through the Straits because of the danger, we should blockade and not have any oil from Iran go out either. Let them consider that as the consequence,' he added.
Security Threats and Regime Change
Despite the bloodshed, Trump has signaled a desire to bring the Ayatollahs to the negotiating table. Bolton fundamentally views this strategy as delusional, rooted in what he sees as the President's inability to understand the fanatical nature of his enemies.
Trump has already eliminated two top layers of Iran's leadership, raising fears that the cornered regime could target the President himself. Bolton, who confirmed he is still under an active assassination threat from Iran, issued a chilling warning about what Tehran will do next.
'I think the regime is losing its military capabilities very rapidly, and I think their use of asymmetric warfare is nearly certain, and I think that would include terrorist attacks in Europe and North America, including assassinations,' Bolton warned when asked about the President's safety. 'So, I think people should really be sensitive to that, and I hope our intelligence agencies are focused on it.'
For Bolton, there is only one path forward in Iran: total overthrow of the Islamic Republic from within. Asked whether he supported arming Iranian citizens to rise up against the regime, he didn't hesitate. 'Yeah. I think you have to ask the opposition, what are you prepared to do?' Bolton said. 'Right now, the government and the police are armed, and the citizens are not. It's a matter of deciding how much they want to overthrow the government.'
Bolton's Own Legal Challenges
While criticizing the administration, Bolton's own record on security is currently under federal scrutiny. On October 17, 2025, the 76-year-old pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal counts of mishandling classified information, as his high-stakes legal battle with the Justice Department continues to escalate.
The veteran diplomat stands accused of the criminal mishandling of top-secret documents and sharing sensitive notes via personal email, charges he has slammed as politically motivated. The case remains ongoing.
Looking Forward
On the logistics of smuggling weapons into Iran at scale, Bolton suggested a coalition approach – Arab countries and Israel could help bring them in. He also defended his support for the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, an exiled opposition group once designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department until Hillary Clinton removed it from the list.
'The worst thing the Iranian diaspora can do is fight over who the successor is going to be,' Bolton said. 'There's no point fighting over it until there's a need for a successor regime and we're not at that point yet.'
His message to his former boss was clear: 'You need to spend a lot more time, effort and resources with the opposition inside. That's what's going to make the difference ultimately in regime change.'
Bolton served as Trump's National Security Advisor in 2018 and as UN Ambassador under George W. Bush. A foreign policy hawk, he has held senior roles in every Republican administration since Reagan. Rubio's team did not respond to a Daily Mail request for comment regarding Bolton's criticisms.
