Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has emphasized the importance of boosting the U.S. defense budget, calling it the most critical foreign policy objective. He expressed confidence that Congress would back a significant increase if proposed by President Trump.
Bolton's recent statement on X echoes his previous comments on CNN, where he urged a substantial rise in defense spending for incoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ideally without increasing the deficit through cuts in domestic spending. This comes at a time when the Pentagon is facing scrutiny after failing its seventh consecutive audit, struggling to account for a substantial portion of its budget.
Bolton's advocacy for increased military expenditure comes amidst his vocal opposition to several of Trump's cabinet nominations. He has openly criticized the choices of Kash Patel for FBI director, comparing him to a figure from Stalin's regime, a sentiment countered by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Bolton also previously expressed disapproval of Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Following Gaetz's withdrawal from consideration, Bolton hinted at further opposition to other nominees.
Bolton's stance has drawn sharp criticism from figures like Elon Musk, who labeled him a "staggeringly dumb warmonger" and a "belligerent idiot" in separate online posts. This exchange highlights the contentious debate surrounding defense spending and foreign policy approaches.
Bolton, who served as Trump's national security advisor and previously as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, continues to be a prominent voice in national security discussions, albeit a controversial one.
