Here’s what President Trump said.
Former President Donald Trump reacted swiftly Friday after former National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to mishandling classified national defense information, marking another dramatic chapter in their long-running public feud.
Bolton admitted in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, to one count of unauthorized possession of a classified national defense document. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 17 counts during sentencing.
The guilty plea prompted an immediate response from Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Bolton since the two parted ways during Trump’s first administration.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump celebrated the development and accused his former adviser of repeatedly pushing the United States toward military conflicts.
“John Bolton… just pleads guilty!” Trump wrote before calling Bolton “a terrible person” who “only wanted to start trouble and wars.”
The comments reflected years of tension between the two men, whose relationship unraveled after Bolton left the White House in 2019.
Bolton Faces Sentencing Later This Year
Bolton, 77, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28.
Under the plea agreement, he faces a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, a $2.25 million fine, three years of supervised release, up to 100 hours of community service, and the loss of his federal retirement pension. His attorneys have asked the court to impose a sentence that does not include jail time.
Prosecutors Detail Classified Documents Case
Federal prosecutors alleged Bolton improperly retained classified national defense materials after leaving government service.
According to court filings, investigators found that Bolton kept more than 1,000 pages of notes documenting his daily activities as national security adviser, including information classified as Top Secret.
Authorities also alleged he shared portions of those materials with two family members using a personal email account.
Prosecutors said the records contained highly sensitive intelligence involving covert operations, intelligence sources and methods, and assessments of foreign military threats.
FBI Says Evidence Supported Charges
FBI Director Kash Patel said the investigation showed Bolton knowingly mishandled classified information.
Patel said investigators determined Bolton transmitted Top Secret information through personal online accounts and retained classified documents at his residence in violation of federal law.
He also rejected claims that the investigation was politically motivated, saying career investigators followed the evidence throughout the case.
Trump And Bolton’s Bitter Split
Bolton served as Trump’s national security adviser from April 2018 until September 2019.
Trump has consistently maintained that he fired Bolton, while Bolton has said he resigned.
The relationship deteriorated even further after Bolton published his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which sharply criticized Trump’s presidency.
The Trump administration attempted to stop publication of the book, arguing it contained classified information. Although the book generated significant controversy, Bolton was never criminally charged over its publication.
Defense Says Bolton Accepted Responsibility
Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client accepted responsibility by entering a guilty plea and argued the agreement avoided a lengthy trial that could have exposed additional sensitive government information.
Friday’s guilty plea adds another major development to one of the most public and contentious rivalries between President Trump and a former senior member of his administration. With sentencing scheduled for October, the case is likely to remain in the national spotlight for months to come.
