John Bolton, former President Donald TrumpTrump’s national security adviser for more than a year, said on Monday he was “absolutely” considering launching a 2024 presidential run – largely to challenge Trump.
Bolton, speaking on NBC News’ “Meet The Press Now,” said the “one thing” that would push him to run was “to make it clear to the people of this country that Donald Trump is the Republican nominee.” is unacceptable.”
Bolton called Trump’s “challenging the Constitution” “un-American” when he suggested over the weekend that the supreme law of the nation may be terminated to bring him back to the White House.
Bolton, who has been a frequent critic of Trump since leaving his administration in September 2019, called the former president’s statement “an existential threat to the republic itself.”
Trump, who has regularly made false statements about widespread election fraud since he lost to the President Joe Biden in 2020, stated in a social media post on Saturday that, “A major fraud of this kind and extent allows for the termination of all rules, regulations and terms, even rules found in the Constitution.”
Trump appeared to retract that statement early Monday, saying it was “Fake News” to claim that he “wants to ‘end’ the Constitution.” In subsequent posts, Trump has stated in all caps that “IF AN ELECTION IS Irrevocable FRAUD, IT MUST GO TO THE LEGAL WINNER OR, MINIMALLY, REGENERATE.”
Bolton dismissed Trump’s explicit explanations, saying his views were “not merely false and outrageous, it disqualified.”
“Donald Trump, if he takes the oath of office again, God forbid, will lie about preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution, or maybe he won’t say anything at all,” Bolton said. “You can’t have this approach. It’s not something one can disagree with. This is the foundation of the republic.”
Bolton urged GOP leaders to denounce Trump, who is currently the only Republican to announce a run for president in 2024. Many other Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the former Vice President Trump’s President Mike Pence, is expected to prepare to run for the Republican nomination.
The Biden administration said attacks on the Constitution should be “condemned globally.” However, many leading Republicans have avoid publicly addressing Trump’s remarks when asked to comment.
Bolton, noting that many Republican leadership roles are currently under consideration, said every potential candidate should dismiss Trump’s remarks.
“And honestly, if they don’t, there’s one thing that got me into the presidential race, which I’ve looked at in previous elections, and that’s made it clear to the people of this country that Donald Trump is unacceptable.” as the Republican candidate,” Bolton said.
In emphasizing those remarks, Bolton confirmed that he would “absolutely” consider entering the 2024 race. To be a presidential candidate, he said, one does not only have to declare support. Constitution but also to oppose “those who mutilate it.”
Referring to the now-defunct House Non-American Activities Committee, Bolton said, “I think when you challenge the Constitution itself the way Trump did, it’s un-American. “
He challenged other Republicans to say the same. “I don’t see why they don’t say it now,” he said.
Nearly all GOP voters “disagree that Donald Trump is more important than the Constitution,” Bolton said. “What does it take for a candidate to attract 95% of the Republican base?”
He said he wanted to see”The Shermanesque Report” denounce Trump from other potential candidates, and if he doesn’t, “then I would seriously consider joining.”
When asked about his views on the 2024 race and what his potential campaign would look like, Bolton predicted that national security issues would dominate that election cycle.
Bolton compared Trump, a “whisper” to the more “optimistic” message of the late GOP President Ronald Reagan. The former national security adviser said his possible presidential background could be “very Reaganesque.”
Bolton describes his politics as “quite liberal” and says he is “not a social conservative.”
He added that he believes the 2024 presidential election will be “very crowded” and that he could make a decision on whether to run “earlier than some think.”
