I would think he would have criminal problems. I hope so. Good afternoon and the National Political reporter at the washington post. Today i am joined by ambassador john bolton President Trumps former National Security advisor and of the white house memoir ambassador bolton. Thank you for having me. Lets begin with the opening of your book that has a detailed account of the Trump Administration. Why did you join the administration in the first place given what you wrote in the book about the president s behavior before hand . I had the honor of serving in prior administrations with the Justice Department and the state department so i felt it was a time for the United States the prior eight years of the Obama Administration had seen a lot of misguided policies and i hope i could make a contribution. And those that have been said about donald trump. And those where i discussed my views and his views. And certainly nobody has ever accused about my views but and in the press and to be overstated and to find a way to make this work in the sustained and coherent fashion to make a contribution. That was my motivation and i we cant in the book what actually happened whether or not that turned out. Speaking of what actually happened to come to the conclusion President Trump was unfit . It didnt pop out lake lightbulb turning on it was the conversations and what played out over a sustained period of time. There were some successes in the early days and trump was able to announce the us withdrawal from the iran nuclear deal. And it was something he tried to do and that this is something clearly he has signaled during the campaign. That is consistent with my longstanding view and some troubling signs i tried to be as accurate as i can so its more an issue of the evidence over time man the immediate moment. Was there any moment you said this man is unfit to serve as commanderinchief . The most disturbing that the nato summit in brussels and was very close to withdrawing from nato. And on the verge of doing that. And for all that trump is correct the nato allies over the years had not born their fair share of the cost. The answer is not to withdraw the osha does not protect america like they did two or three centuries ago. Nato in my a judgment is the most successful Political Military Alliance in history. And to work in various ways. To help persuade the president. And then perhaps the 48 hour. And probably the first point and then thought i would have to resign. And the president makes the decision. And then to provide advice and in that case and despite that narrow miss to help encourage me to stay on longer. You said the president policies position so did you ever speak up and confront the president about the conduct and the behavior that you write about. And we speak about it. And in some of the areas that were questionable, i did brief that council of the president and the attorney general. That is a responsibility and counted on them to do what was required. And west wing there are dramatic confrontations and then departing from the white house there are things we tried to do in ukraine for example to ensure the Security Assistance held up was delivered and almost any business. Where you work to confront. And those are the circumstances we have all worked in the alumni association. And the Trump Administration so its a very personal decision how you address the problem of how long you try to address it. You are a lawyer your entire career and then to go to the attorney general and then to go to the attorney general and on National Security and legal matters and concerns about what he was doing with misconduct . And what i am receiving what is coming out i tried to do too many peoples jobs for them. So i tried to respect the fact i did refer this to the lawyers and others on staff at the white house advisers but i tried to focus on my job and then to say that was wrong maybe it was a mistake i can only tell you what i did it was for the purpose in the right direction in terms of policies. As you reflect back. It could be. I am aware i made mistakes to discuss them in the book there are probably things i could have done better. Im not sure on this score it would have shifted the president s view on all this because he was hear from so many people on the outside who didnt understand how government was run its not always clear as events go on that verges on the illegal it may be unacceptable and unpresident ial. And exactly what was happening. And you dont have the full picture. And Harry Rosenberg from massachusetts ask about your lack of testimony. And to testify before the house . I address this in the book. And the advocates in the house and to make a impeachment malpractice. To look back and what happened was the advocates of impeachment all democrats in the beginning with an increasing number of republicans that nixons conduct had high crimes and misdemeanor look at the urban Committee Democrats worked with republicans to develop the evidence and the facts of what happened that watergate thats not what the democrats did they act in a manner that was perceived and rightly understood to be partisan and put House Republicans in a partisan corner that was highly partisan proceedings and the house with the partyline Impeachment Vote and therefore pretty much guaranteed the same sort of thing in the senate. If the goal is not a vote that impeach trump in the house but removed from office they did at 180 degrees the wrong way and jumping off the cliff with them was not only a mistake and then to get lost in the shuffle. And then to be implemented by them. Your decision changed history. But at the same time did you ever grapple personal obligation as a citizen . Speak up. So what would be effective . Ronald reagan needs to say and then to say sometime im not jumping off the cliff. And that advocates of impeachment are doing are pretty much exactly that. They were verges signaling. So that argument was trump will be forever impeached and that will be a constraint on his behavior. That is exactly the opposite of what happened. He was not impeached. He was acquitted. So their actions did not form a deterrent against future similar conduct by trump, they enabled him. And this could be better than in the middle of the president ial campaign with the president ial one the impeachment effort doomed to failure that i picked correctly i thought the responsible thing to do is to make sure that these facts in the book were put on Public Record for people to consider they may vote for donald trump that is there a decision but at least they know who they are voting for. It is so detailed so as a lawyer and in the process of this book and your time in the white house . Im not sure turning that dictation device on or off theres no tapes like the nixon administration. I did the best job that i could but i will stand by what i said in the book is the best i could do. And im prepared to talk about the facts and recollections and as a former trial lawyer to come with different recollections. And its the best that i can do to put it down accurately. You raise red flags if the president is incompetent and said on page 158 the president has a penchant for dictators he likes do you believe ambassador to family members such as Jared Kushner has financial conflicts as they craft form policy for the United States . I dont know the answer to that question but i would say has a wrote the book and recounted thes incidents it wasnt personal financial gain that was most on my mind with that legitimate government power to advance his own political interest. And that it is a short Attention Span he doesnt learn or read or consider facts. And to layout examples of that in the book that when it comes to his own reelection all of those stay away. To be devoted to National Security rather than reelection. If there are examples of financial misdeeds. I cannot say i saw any. I wouldnt want to speculate for any nongovernmental purpose in my view is a legitimate everybody that takes politics into account it would be naive and foolish to think otherwise when governmental power is used exclusively for personal benefit. Did the president ever talked about the investigations in new york . And most importantly he spoke to president aired a wine of turkey and i recount in the book that pompeo and secretary mnuchin had talking about this investigation and litigation and what the president said to influence it. And with the us attorney and to voice your concerns about other issues like huawai you believe the attorney general compromised in any way . I dont know the circumstances involved in the firing the acting attorney in the Southern District of new york i went to speculate. So from that perspective because ive been out of the government now since i resigned in september i have anything to add other than what i have read in the newspapers make it the House Democrats pursue an investigation of the attorney general would you be willing to testify. At rather not get into a hypothetical about that. That they are said pursuing a subpoena right now. Lets see what they do the way they handled the impeachment inquiry gives me pause i have to say. Especially in light of the circumstances of what President Trump has done. And then i will certainly consider that if it comes up. To do the right thing. We have to see what they do. This is hypothetical we are in campaign season. Talk about Rudy Giuliani so with that investigation of Vice President biden and hunter biden and paris smut as a legitimate investigation . I dont know anything about joe biden or his son or what the activities were other than what i have seen in the newspapers now if there are facts that warranted then i have no objection but other than a very foolish act to take the money from the reason. That is not good but if there is substance or not i dont see that from the media account. I dont see anything beyond that at this point. Ambassador you write about Jamaal Khashoggi who was killed by saudi agents. Can you tell us more about the president s views on the murder of khashoggi . I recount in the book conversations he had with saudi leaders. And then with that same effect to stand by the saudis to the United States and in a very turbulent and troubled region. So the United States doesnt want to sell arms to saudi arabia. We will sell arms to saudi arabia. It is a hard view of the world but that is the views he took because of the importance of the bilateral relationship and that was the right course. Stay on the put in front do you believe the russians and putin have manipulated the president s worldview . I dont think the president has worldview. Thats the problem. He doesnt approach National Security with the philosophy or a grand strategy. There is a there for the russians to manipulate but whether it is Vladimir Putin or president xi or any other authoritarian leaders they do see the president and that is an objective with a very real concern. And with the Reelection Campaign looking at the chinese president is now helping the campaign . They are purchasing the agricultural products. That the deal is going just fine. And this points to the question and that if trump is reelected in november he will pursue the rhetoric and to take a tough line on china that will continue and to get back to the trade negotiations. So you believe that he is reelected he will work closer with president xi or kim jungun or maduro and the others . Part of the trouble and describing what happens the Trump Administration form policy is what seems to be decided on day number one is day number two in venezuela is a good case in point. I describe in the book how the venezuelan opposition 2019 to have a very active anti material position and to rescue freedom in venezuela. And with bipartisan support. So the president went along with it until he decided he was nervous and maduro was a stronger leader. Earlier this year the leader of the opposition in the interim president and just a few days ago to meet with maduro and then certain and that caused a firestorm and venezuela and cubanamerican communities so what is the position then . We only have some short questions about Racial Injustice to talk about the president using success terms. Did you ever hear anything in the white house that was racist . And those that are fairly confirmed is racist no. There are other statements that were attributed to him before i was in the white house. But i dont recall any if i had. You are right about the president and his please of democracy and then to leave the white house if he is defeated this year . I hope so and it is important for republicans , especially to make that clear. If were not careful with the albatross of this administration any longer than necessary. And what you are describing is absolutely the worst. With the Trump Administration you cannot be sure of anything. What does that mean for the fate of this country . I think the prospects of the president ial election in november are unhappy especially me as a lifelong conservative who started to hand out leaflets for the Goldwater Campaign which they were real conservative republicans on the ballot. It will not be a happy time from my perspective. I hope to spend a little time working hard the majority is preserved. On that is critical at the president ial level because the prospects are not happy. Spent working on the Political Action committee will you campaign against President Trump . I dont know how that will play out. The bulk of my efforts will be at the congressional level under the surface of the Republican Party there is a great desire we will see that if he is seated in november the party as an institution has a discussion how we proceed Going Forward otherwise we fear those ramification of trumps four years in office will be very damaging. And it strong on strong to have a strong Republican Party and American Foreign policy. Final question thank you for taking the time to have this question. I you considering 2024 president ial run . Absolutely not. I can said unequivocally. People are accusing me of enough things to get money out of the book but if money were my objective i never would have went into the government. Lets be clear. This is not for personal gain never country or philosophy and to avoid any misunderstanding so i can unequivocally rule out a campaign in 2024. So thinking about it 2012 and 2015 and then in 2016 so i had to ask. Thank you for your time. Thank you for having me. One of the issues with the john bolton book the room where it happened was the prepublication review by the government. The director of the National Security archive at George Washington university and joining us on book tv to talk about the prepublication review system. How did this develop . And in the 1970s where former cia agents sent in a manuscript of his experience with the cia they came back