John Bolton condemns Donald Trump's Iran war strategy and policy toward NATO allies

Criticisms of the military campaign in Iran

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton criticized President Donald Trump over the conduct of the war against Iran, arguing that the administration began military action without defining a clear objective. The United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran on 28 February 2026, initiating a regional conflict that has continued for nearly seven months. In an appearance on Deutschlandfunk's Interview of the Week, Bolton stated that Trump acted without evaluating potential outcomes or preparing for subsequent phases.

Trump decides without considering the consequences, without playing through possible scenarios. That has brought him into a situation from which he knows no way out today.

Bolton stated that the White House failed to prepare necessary measures if the goal was regime change in Tehran. He noted that strategic military decisions require time and planning, which Trump did not allocate prior to the February attacks. Bolton pointed out that the administration did not cooperate with opposition forces inside Iran, which he described as widespread but poorly organized. He argued that the US could have provided Iranian opposition groups with funds, communication equipment, and weapons to destabilize the government from within.

Communication gaps with allies and Congress

Beyond operational planning, Bolton pointed to a widespread lack of communication with key international partners and domestic institutions. He stated that the president made no effort to convince the US Congress or the American public of the necessity of military intervention in Iran. The administration also failed to notify NATO allies, Gulf partner nations, Japan, and South Korea before initiating combat operations.

The decisive question is what objective you pursue with military force.

Bolton stated that withholding prior coordination from regional allies in the Persian Gulf and key Asian partners weakened the overall diplomatic and strategic position of the United States. He noted that achieving political transformation through military action cannot happen instantly without advance preparation and broad diplomatic alignment.

Strains on NATO and alliance relations

Bolton also addressed the broader state of transatlantic relations, asserting that Trump inflicted heavy and unnecessary damage on NATO partnerships. Trump had previously unsettled alliance members by floating proposals to acquire Greenland from Denmark and expressing interest in making Canada the 51st US state. European allies also pushed back against demands for immediate, substantial defense spending increases alongside repeated threats of US troop drawdowns across the European continent.

Trump has inflicted enormous damage on relations with NATO partners. This damage must be repaired. It was completely unnecessary.

Bolton stated that repairing the relationship between Washington and its European allies remains possible, urging an immediate start to diplomatic recovery efforts.

Personal diplomacy and future administration outlook

Evaluating Trump's approach to foreign leaders, Bolton characterized the president's belief that personal rapport equates to sound bilateral relations as flawed. Trump has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which Bolton argued leaves Trump reluctant to exert diplomatic pressure on either leader. Bolton described that perspective as a childlike understanding of international politics and dangerous.

Looking ahead, Bolton expressed confidence that US foreign policy could return to a traditional framework once Trump leaves office. Addressing potential political succession, Bolton described Vice President JD Vance as opportunistic, remarking that Vance's policy positions leading into 2028 remain unpredictable. Bolton served in Trump's first administration between 2017 and 2021 for roughly 18 months before resigning amid policy disagreements, later publishing a critical memoir in 2020 that the Trump administration unsuccessfully attempted to block.