John Bolton declares hiking US defense budget the ‘most important priority in foreign affairs today’
Former national security advisor John Bolton recently emphasized the necessity of increasing the U.S. defense budget as the top priority in foreign affairs. Bolton expressed his belief that Congress would support a significant budgetary increase if President Trump proposed it. In a post on X, Bolton stated, “The single most important priority in foreign affairs today is to increase the American defense budget. I hope that’s what he does.”
During an appearance on CNN last month, Bolton advocated for Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, to secure a substantial increase in the Defense Department budget. He also highlighted the importance of reducing domestic spending to prevent an increase in the deficit.
In a related development, the Pentagon recently failed its 7th consecutive audit, unable to fully account for its $824 billion budget. This failure raises concerns about financial transparency and accountability within the Defense Department.
Bolton has also expressed opposition to Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director, asserting that the Senate should reject the appointment. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance responded to Bolton’s criticism by praising Patel as an excellent choice.
Furthermore, Bolton has a history of opposing Trump’s nominations, previously recommending that the Senate reject Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Matt Gaetz for attorney general. After Gaetz withdrew his candidacy last month, Bolton tweeted, “One down, more to follow.”
Business magnate Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of Bolton, describing him as “a staggeringly dumb warmonger” in a tweet. Musk’s criticisms reflect a broader sentiment of distrust towards Bolton’s hawkish foreign policy views.
In conclusion, John Bolton’s advocacy for increasing the defense budget and his opposition to certain Trump administration nominees have sparked debate and controversy. As a former national security advisor, Bolton’s perspectives on foreign affairs continue to shape the discourse on defense spending and national security strategy.
