Bolton: Don’t Get ‘Hyper-Thyroid’ Over Musk on Zelenskyy Call

John Bolton, who served as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser during his first term, downplayed concerns about Elon Musk’s involvement in Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He suggested that the situation should not be overblown, stating it was “nothing to get ‘hyper-thyroid about,'” in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Friday.

However, Bolton did express some skepticism regarding the broader context, saying, “It’s certainly not a sign that order and stability have suddenly appeared at Mar-a-Lago despite what everybody is talking about, these early appointments,” as reported by The Hill. Trump has been engaging with global leaders following his election victory, but Musk’s unexpected participation in the call with Zelenskyy on Wednesday sparked some questions.

NBC News reported on Shabbos that Musk had not been originally planned to join the call. According to sources, Musk entered the room during the conversation and briefly greeted Zelenskyy, though he did not engage in the substantive dialogue between Trump and the Ukrainian leader.

Bolton shared his initial thoughts on the situation, saying, “My first reaction when I heard it was, well, so what? What’s unusual about having the Vice President-elect sitting with the President-elect on a call?” He then reflected on the reality that “Elon Musk wasn’t the Vice President-elect.” Bolton emphasized that it’s too early to predict Trump’s presidential actions but expressed hope that “America will become stronger.”

Addressing the uncertainties surrounding Trump’s future actions, Bolton noted, “Of course, we cannot yet know what his actions will be. But we do hope that America will become stronger.” Trump has consistently claimed that he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict before taking office, though critics argue his proposed solution would require Ukraine to cede territory.

Bolton, who has often criticized Trump, suggested that Musk’s involvement in the call fits into a larger pattern of chaotic decision-making by Trump. He described the situation as typical for the president, calling it “the same chaotic, ‘Do what you want to do’ Donald Trump, with his latest bright, shiny object, Elon Musk.”

Bolton was also asked about the advice he would offer to Trump’s future national security adviser. He explained that the adviser must be capable of presenting the president with the best possible options to “make the best selection of policy” and ensure that the decisions are implemented.

“If the president doesn’t take your advice, then that goes with the job,” Bolton said. “You are the national security adviser and not the national security decision-maker.” However, Bolton stressed that the adviser should not simply agree with the president’s wishes but should work to provide all available information and feasible options. “You have to do what you can, and you are obviously dealing with a human being, but you need to do what you can to make sure that all of the information is available, and all of the feasible options are laid out,” Bolton concluded, asserting that always agreeing does not serve the president or the country.

{Matzav.com}