President Donald Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton remains on the receiving end of Trump's Twitter ire after revelations from Bolton's tell-all book paint the picture of an inept and corrupt commander in chief.
Bolton's memoir of his time in the Trump administration, The Room Where It Happened, alleges that Trump implored Chinese officials to help with his reelection effort, that he supported China's Muslim concentration camps, and a wealth of other disturbing actions.
But Bolton isn't getting praise from Trump's critics. The former advisor says now that the House Select Committee on impeachment should've expanded its investigation beyond the President's corrupt dealings in Ukraine, but Bolton's refusal to testify played an integral part in limiting the investigation.
Another criticism Bolton faces on his quest for a redemption arc is that he stayed with the administration for so long, even while Trump was—as Bolton alleges—pursuing deplorable avenues to remain in power.
The Late Show host Stephen Colbert held Bolton's feet to the fire in the pair's recent interview.
Watch below.
WATCH: Colbert calls Bolton out for joining Trump, “how could you not know (how bad he would be)?"
Chuck Todd should watch this interview and take some notes. pic.twitter.com/0PxzZDL7md
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) June 24, 2020
Bolton defended his decision to vote for Trump in 2016, saying he thought the American people "had to try it out."
Colbert responded:
"I guess what's exasperating is there is absolutely nothing that Donald Trump has done that is surprising to me. My rule is that everything you think about Donald Trump is probably true, because he's not deep enough to get your socks wet in. He's incredibly readable. That's why when he ran casinos, the house lost. There's nothing to learn about him. That's why he's a essentially a boring person. How did you not know beforehand that he was just callow?"
Bolton responded:
"Because I couldn't believe it was that bad. And I know other people say they say it from the beginning—"
Colbert was at a loss:
"But you're an international negotiator. How could you be naive? You've dealt with the worst people in the world."
Bolton accused Colbert of "really insulting" him by calling him naive, assuring that he'd hoped the President would be more receptive to learning about national security.
This prompted Colbert to laugh.
People were just as incredulous at Bolton's answers as Colbert was.
"What could be worse in Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden's philosophy than betraying your country to a hostile foreign leader?"
Great question, @StephenAtHome.pic.twitter.com/2iyQTVhF9s
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2020
Said it before and I'll say it again. If Donald Trump asks you to join his administration and you say yes, I know everything I need to know about you as a human being. Is that Harsh? Damn right it is.
— Kenneth Jimenez (@MrKennyJimenez) June 24, 2020
When Bolton says "surely they [Trump] would want to learn about the complexities of arms control" he's either naive or flat out lying. Very FEW people are interested in "policy wonk" stuff like that - even people who are smart enough to be able to grasp it. And Trump simply isn't
— Kansas Grant (@KansasGrant) June 24, 2020
Bolton “realized" how bad and corrupt Trump was, left or was ousted, and just kept quiet. He could have spoken out the very day he walked out of the WH.
Is it not a crime to stay silent when having firsthand knowledge of back room deals with hostile foreign powers? It should be.
— Mandy J💙🏳️🌈ally #resist 🌊💙 (@MandyQuietly) June 24, 2020
All I get from this is that he would sit back and watch the entire country burn rather than see a Democrat take the country forward.
He's a fanatic, a freak, an a traitor.
No one should buy his book.
It's available for free online.
Steal it, he doesn't deserve to earn a dime.
— Robbie "Always In Quarantine" Wallis (@Robbie_Wallis1) June 24, 2020
Some thought Colbert's interview of Bolton was more productive and informative than Bolton's interviews with mainstream anchors.
All journalists should! Why is @StephenAtHome a better interviewer than the people who actually went to college for journalism?
— Diane Williams (@dianeddabs) June 24, 2020
Colbert is a vastly underrated interviewer. I always thought he should moderate presidential debates.
— Erik with a K (@OrangeRomeda3) June 24, 2020
Colbert did an outstanding job. Best interview with Bolton I've seen yet. I don't by Bolton's excuse for refusing to testify before Congress. He's a political partisan to the bone. His revelations could have spared us the horror of Trump, but he wanted to sell a book.
— Buddy Stone (@buddystone) June 24, 2020
This is how all GOP members should be interviewed.
— Joe Fusco (@primetimeJoey) June 24, 2020
I was concerned about this interview. Apparently, I need not have been.
— Dan Dana (@dantheshive) June 24, 2020
Bolton's book hit shelves this week.
