DONALD Trump’s lack of awareness when it comes to geopolitics makes him vulnerable to being misled and taken advantage of by America’s enemies, John Bolton told The US Sun.
The former Trump administration official criticized the 77-year-old tycoon and claimed he was unfit for the job.
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Bolton criticized Trump’s approach to foreign relations, saying the former president views international diplomacy as if he were negotiating a trade deal.
“Trump is someone who really doesn’t appreciate what’s at stake on important international issues,” he said.
“They [America’s adversaries] can take advantage of it.”
Trump raised eyebrows when he refused to comment when asked by Time if American forces would rush to the defense of Taiwan if it were invaded by Chinese troops.
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“This sends a message to Beijing that they may be in a very advantageous position,” Bolton said.
“Not just with Taiwan, but with respect to many American friends in the Trump administration.
“It is part of a problem of isolationism that is growing within the Republican party.
“This idea that somehow alliances and partnerships around the world don’t mean as much to Trump as they have to previous American presidents. I think it makes America weaker.”
Bolton believes Trump’s attitude toward geopolitics should alert US allies in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.
“Our allies should be warned that when Trump talks about leaving NATO or not defend Taiwan, is not idle speculation,” he said.
“That’s something he would be prepared to do.”
Bolton believes Chinese Communist Party elites in Beijing will not be intimidated if Trump dramatically returns to office next January.
He warned that Trump could be exploited because he does not have a fixed attitude towards China and does not nurture personal relationships.
“Trump has an affinity with Xi Jinping,” said Bolton.
“He used to call him ‘King’ and said it with admiration.”
In 2019, Trump revealed that he had labeled Xi as king during a state visit to Beijing two years earlier.
“Xi Jinping loved it and said it with admiration,” Bolton added.
“He flattered Trump in return.”
Trump is someone who really doesn’t appreciate what’s at stake on important international issues.
John Bolton
Bolton warned that Xi does not see international affairs as relations between leaders.
“Xi doesn’t think China’s national interests are the same as having a good friendship with Trump,” he said.
“This is why Trump is so vulnerable to the sycophancy, labor and deceit of foreign leaders who take advantage of his experience.”
He warned that dictators could exploit Trump’s apparent lack of conscience – despite him having spent four years in the Oval Office.
Trump is known for his unpredictability and Bolton warned he could change quickly.
“He has no philosophy. He is very ad hoc, transactional and sees things through the prism of what benefits Trump,” said the former US ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump has an affinity with Xi Jinping.
John Bolton
Trump was thrilled when the Phase One US-China trade deal was signed in January 2020.
The then-president described the agreement as historic and ordered China to purchase $200 billion in additional American exports before December 31, 2021.
“We are correcting the mistakes of the past and delivering a future of economic justice and security for American workers, farmers and families,” Trump boasted at the time.
Trump was friendly with Xi, describing him as a good friend.
He thanked the Chinese authorities for their cooperation and partnership.
Trump’s comments came months before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the U.S. and global economies.
Who is John Bolton?
Former national security adviser John Bolton had an illustrious career, serving under four Republican presidents in a variety of roles.
Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Yale Law School in 1974.
Bolton served in President Ronald Reagan’s administration as assistant administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development for Policy and Program Coordination between August 1982 and 1983.
He also worked at the Department of Justice in the Office of Legislative Affairs between December 1985 and 1986.
George HW Bush appointed Bolton Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. He served in this role between May 1989 and January 1993.
Bolton served in the George W. Bush administration as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.
He was appointed US Ambassador to the United Nations in August 2005. Bolton remained in the post until December 2006.
Bolton was a foreign policy adviser to then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012.
Bolton was appointed national security advisor from April 2018 until September 2019.
In September 2019, Trump posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Bolton’s services were no longer needed. He claimed he asked Bolton to resign.
Bolton responded to the former president and told his followers on X he offered to resign his position.
He said Trump told him, “Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”
Bolton is also an author and wrote the book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, which documents his time as Trump’s national security advisor.
He first imposed tariffs on China in January 2018, targeting imported solar cells and washing machines.
Trump imposed tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminum imports to protect domestic production.
Trump justified the measures as necessary to guarantee national security.
Trump’s punitive measures triggered a trade war that saw Beijing retaliate by imposing tariffs on American goods.
TRADE WAR
The trade war went back and forth and continued to escalate throughout 2018 and 2019.
In February 2019, negotiations were held between Trump and Xi, which delayed the tariffs to be imposed on Chinese products.
In the summer, Trump proposed new rounds of tariffs before these too were delayed by a few days.
Bolton offered insight into what a second Trump term could look like, particularly through the lens of Sino-American relations.
He warned that Trump would be motivated by revenge in a second term, increasing the chances of a trade war.
This is because Trump blames the 2020 election loss on China, according to Bolton.
Trump and Biden appear to be trying to gain an advantage over each other by talking tough to China.
WEAK COMPETITION
In February, Trump proposed tariffs of at least 60% on Chinese products if he won the November elections.
Meanwhile, Biden has imposed new tariffs on electric cars, batteries, solar cells, steel and aluminum produced in Beijing.
He accused the Chinese government of cheating.
Trump’s team dismissed Biden’s measures.
The tariffs are expected to come into effect within the next three years.
But Bolton warned that Trump does not understand the impact of the tariffs.
“He likes the tariffs, but he doesn’t fully understand how they work and that they will increase costs for American consumers,” he said.
Despite tough talk from both presidential candidates, Bolton doesn’t believe Beijing cares who prevails in November.
“China can work with Biden or Trump,” he said.
Bolton said Biden has been woefully weak in his approach to Beijing.
“The Chinese think they have two weak candidates for president. They could take advantage of both,” he said.
Come as the president race remains on a knife’s edge.
Trump is currently boasting a lead in the seven crucial battleground states that will decide who ends up in the White House, according to polls compiled by Really clear policy.
Biden’s approval ratings are underwater and most Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
However, the political impacts of Trump’s criminal cases are not yet known.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
