John Bolton: From Trump's National Security Advisor to Outspoken Critic Facing Legal Challenges

John Bolton, a seasoned Washington diplomat with his distinctive bushy white mustache, has transitioned from being Donald Trump's national security advisor to one of his harshest critics.

The 76-year-old veteran foreign policy hawk, recognized for his aggressive stance on international relations, recently found himself indicted on 18 counts related to handling classified information, to which he pleaded not guilty in Maryland federal court.

Before joining the Trump administration in 2018, Bolton was semi-retired and regularly appearing as a commentator on Fox News. His appointment seemed promising for someone with decades of experience navigating Washington's political landscape.

Bolton, who rose from humble beginnings as the son of a Baltimore firefighter to attend Yale Law School, has consistently advocated for tough foreign policy approaches, particularly regarding countries like Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.

The alliance between Trump and Bolton initially centered on their shared skepticism toward international organizations. Bolton once famously remarked that if the United Nations lost 10 floors from its 38-floor New York headquarters, "it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

Despite this common ground, fundamental foreign policy disagreements, especially concerning Iran and Trump's engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, led to Bolton's departure in September 2019. While Trump claimed he fired Bolton, the former advisor maintained that he resigned.

Following his White House exit, Bolton published a scathing memoir titled "The Room Where It Happened," which severely criticized Trump's competence, intelligence, and ethics. Since then, he has become a vocal Trump critic across various media platforms, describing the former president as "unfit to be president."

Bolton's indictment follows similar legal actions against other Trump adversaries, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI director James Comey. When asked about Bolton's legal troubles, Trump simply described his former advisor as a "bad guy" and remarked, "That's the way it goes."