Trump Supporter-Turned-Critic Bolton Swipes at Rival Hegseth
John Bolton speaking at the PMOI event. Photo by VOA Persian. Public domain.
It wasn't just a critique — it sounded like a warning. John Bolton, the famously hawkish former national security adviser, told CNN that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should resign "for his own safety's sake."
Was it a threat? A prediction? Or something else entirely?
For a man known for blunt words and a mustache that signals war, Bolton's phrasing struck a nerve in Washington. The comment came amid an escalating scandal surrounding Hegseth's use of the encrypted app Signal to discuss U.S. military operations — including conversations that allegedly involved his wife and a journalist. As headlines swirl and political loyalties fracture, this story is shaping into something much bigger: the old guard vs. the new blood. And at the center of it, two men with very different ideas of what power looks like — and how it should be used.
Who Is John Bolton?
John Bolton, 76, has spent decades at the heart of Republican foreign policy circles. He served under Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr., eventually landing the coveted post of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations via a controversial recess appointment. A conservative firebrand with a history of undermining international cooperation and favoring military strength over diplomacy, Bolton is best known for his hawkish worldview and icy demeanor.
In 2018, Donald Trump named him national security adviser. But the honeymoon didn't last. Bolton exited the White House in 2019, clashing with Trump over Iran and North Korea. By 2020, Bolton was openly criticizing his former boss, calling the Trump administration "chaotic" in his memoir, "The Room Where It Happened" — a title that became a rallying cry for anti-Trump conservatives, according to The Britannica.
But Bolton has not faded quietly into the margins. Now he's turning his fire inward — and his latest target is Pete Hegseth.
The Rise of Pete Hegseth — And the Signal App Scandal
Young, brash, and battle-hardened, Pete Hegseth is the opposite of Bolton in almost every way. The former Fox News host and Army National Guard Major rose to prominence with a blend of patriotic rhetoric and populist media savvy. Sworn in as Secretary of Defense in January 2025 after a tense confirmation process, Hegseth quickly became a lightning rod.
Pete Hegseth (Left) with UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey (Right). Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense. Public domain.
His record has long raised eyebrows. He once advocated using military force during domestic protests and spoke favorably of banning women from combat roles. Additionally, Hegseth has battled allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault. His religious tattoos and controversial past statements led to accusations of extremism, including a flagged incident branding him a potential "insider threat," according to CNN.
But it's his recent use of Signal that has placed him in the hot seat. Reports emerged that Hegseth participated in at least two encrypted Signal group chats involving top Trump officials — and in one case, his wife and personal attorney — to discuss potential strikes on Yemen. One of the chats mistakenly included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, a gaffe that set off alarms in security circles.
According to the administration, no classified information was leaked. But critics — and Bolton — say the implications are serious.
Bolton's Message: Warning or Shot Across the Bow?
Asked by CNN's Pamela Brown whether Hegseth should remain in office, Bolton didn't mince words. According to Mediaite, he said, "No, I think he should resign for his own safety's sake, if nothing else."
Bolton added, "This is a critical time for the American military. We understand the Trump administration will rightly propose enormous budget increases for defense. We need it. We need a secretary who can get the job done, not somebody who spends his time on Signal chat groups."
According to Mediaite, Bolton elaborated that Hegseth's use of a personal phone represented a national security risk, saying, "And just as someone who is a national security expert, the fact that it was happening on his personal cell phone, how much does that concern you, knowing that foreign adversaries often target top-level national security officials to get into their phones and put in spyware?"
What exactly did Bolton mean? Were his comments a warning about foreign espionage — a real threat considering adversaries often target phones? Or something more sinister? The Gateway Pundit characterized the remarks as a potential "thinly veiled threat," raising the question of whether Bolton knows something the public doesn't.
For now, Bolton has not clarified his comment.
The Reaction — And the Growing Rift
Trump himself has stood behind his embattled Secretary of Defense — at least publicly. According to the Independent, in an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said, "He's a talented guy. He's young. He's smart, highly educated. And I think he's going to be a very good defense, hopefully a great defense secretary."
But others aren't so sure. House Republicans recently blocked a Democrat-led vote to launch an inquiry into Hegseth's Signal use. That hasn't stopped critics like Representative Adam Smith (D-Washington) from calling his actions "indefensible." According to the Independent, Smith said, "They are so afraid of this issue — they can't defend it — that they don't want to talk about it. And they will go to extraordinary process lengths to try to prevent Congress from doing its job of exercising oversight over the Pentagon."
Meanwhile, Bolton's blunt assessments echo a broader unease among the Washington establishment. Is this a generational clash between a Cold War-era conservative and a MAGA-media populist? Or is it personal?
Old Bucks vs. Young Bucks
The showdown between Bolton and Hegseth may be less about one scandal and more about a deeper philosophical divide.
Bolton represents the hawkish intellectual elite — suspicious of Trumpism but still clinging to Reagan-era foreign policy ideals. Hegseth is the embodiment of the MAGA-era culture warrior — unpredictable, media-fluent, and deeply loyal to Trump.
The old guard sees threats everywhere and speaks in the language of diplomacy and war rooms. The new generation sees bureaucracy as the enemy and isn't afraid to text operational chatter from his living room.
Whether Bolton's remarks were meant as a warning, a rebuke, or a flex, one thing is clear — the fight for the soul of the conservative national security world is not over.
References: John Bolton Tells CNN Pete Hegseth Should 'Resign For His Own Safety's Sake' | Did Warmonger John Bolton Just Issue Pete Hegseth a Thinly Veiled Threat? (VIDEO) | Bolton: Hegseth Should Resign 'For His Own Safety's Sake' | John Bolton Says Pete Hegseth Should Quit 'For His Own Safety's Sake' | John Bolton: United States Government Official | Pete Hegseth Fast Facts
