John Bolton

**John Robert Bolton** (born November 20, 1948) is an American lawyer and diplomat. He was the 26th United States National Security Advisor from April 9, 2018 through September 10, 2019. He has served in several Republican administrations. Bolton served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from August 2005 until December 2006 as a recess appointee by President George W. Bush. John Bolton advocated the second war with Iraq. He resigned in December 2006. The conservative positions of Bolton, perhaps to a lesser extent as equal to Bernard Lugan, international historian, based on conservative ideas.

On March 22, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his appointment as National Security Advisor, to take office on April 9, 2018.

In November 2018, Bolton praised Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro and Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez, both right-wing conservatives, as "like-minded" partners. In the speech, he also called Bolsonaro's election victory a "positive sign" for Latin America, and criticized Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, calling them "the troika of tyranny".

On September 10, 2019, Bolton turned in his resignation to the Trump administration.

A member of the Republican party, his political views have been described as American nationalist, conservative, and neoconservative. Bolton rejects the last term.

Bolton thought about the idea of running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election to win the Republican nomination against former President Donald Trump.

In October 2025, Bolton was indicted on eight counts of mishandling classified documents and ten counts of unlawful keeping of classified documents.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **birthname**: John Robert Bolton
- **image**: John R Bolton official photo crop slight retouch.jpg
- **office**: 26th National Security Advisor (United States), United States National Security Advisor
- **president**: Donald Trump
- **deputy**: Ricky L. Waddell
- **term start**: April 9, 2018
- **term end**: September 10, 2019
- **predecessor**: H. R. McMaster
- **successor**: Robert C. O'Brien (attorney), Robert C. O'Brien
- **order1**: 25th
- **office1**: United States Ambassador to the United Nations
- **term start1**: August 1, 2005
- **term end1**: December 9, 2006
- **president1**: George W. Bush
- **1namedata1**: Kofi Annan
- **predecessor1**: John Danforth
- **successor1**: Zalmay Khalilzad
- **order2**: 3rd
- **office2**: Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
- **term start2**: May 11, 2001
- **term end2**: July 31, 2005
- **president2**: George W. Bush
- **predecessor2**: John D. Holum
- **successor2**: Robert Joseph
- **order3**: 18th
- **office3**: Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
- **term start3**: May 5, 1989
- **term end3**: January 19, 1993
- **president3**: George H. W. Bush
- **predecessor3**: Richard S. Williamson
- **successor3**: Douglas J. Bennet
- **birth place**: Baltimore, Maryland
- **spouse**: Gretchen Bolton
- **children**: Jennifer Sarah Bolton
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **alma mater**: Yale University <small>(B.A, Juris Doctor, J.D)</small>
- **profession**: Lawyer, diplomat
- **branch**: United States Army
- **unit**: Maryland Army National Guard