John Bolton Calls on Marco Rubio to Resign After Zelensky White House Spat
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John Bolton, a former national security adviser for President Donald Trump, called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resign following Trump’s tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. Department of State for comment via email outside business hours.
Why It Matters
On February 28, Trump and Zelensky met in the White House, where they discussed pursuing a ceasefire deal in the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv. While Trump has said he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin to respect a ceasefire, Zelensky expressed skepticism during their discussion, which ultimately erupted into a heated exchange.
Bolton’s call for Rubio to resign underscores the concern some have over Washington’s evolving relationship with Moscow.
Michael Brochstein/Associated Press
What To Know
Speaking to MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace on Friday about Trump’s comments, Bolton said, “This is the point, when somebody does 180 degrees from understanding American allies to backing America’s adversaries, that you resign.”
He then called on Rubio and Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, to resign, adding: “This is really the time to do it. If they don’t get out now, I think their reputations will suffer for a long, long time, and that would be sad because their record in believing in a strong American national security policy is very good up until now.”
After Friday’s meeting between Trump and Zelensky, the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the White House, with Trump later writing on social media, “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace.”
Social media users have highlighted Rubio’s role in the peace talks, commenting on his body language during Trump’s conversation with Zelensky. Images of Rubio slouching with his hands clasped and appearing stone-faced quickly circulated online, with some commentators saying he appeared “embarrassed.”
In an interview with CNN after the meeting, Rubio criticized Zelensky, saying, “That wasn’t supposed to be this way, but that’s the path he chose, and I think, frankly, sends his country backwards in regards to achieving peace, which is what President Trump wants at the end of the day.”
He added that the Ukrainian president should apologize for “turning this thing into the fiasco” that it became and “wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did.”
In August 2015, while serving as a senator and running for president, Rubio told reporters: “Russia is governed today by a gangster. He’s basically an organized crime figure who controls a government and a large territory. There’s no other way to describe Vladimir Putin.”
What People Are Saying
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday: “Being a peacemaker is not a bad thing. We should be applauding and supporting @POTUS’s efforts to bring about peace.”
Brian Krassenstein, a political commentator, wrote on X: “Marco Rubio, RESIGN!! They will eventually ask you to pull us out of NATO. Get out before it’s too late.”
Rick Wilson, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, wrote on X: “If Marco Rubio had a shred of honor, and believed in any of values he articulated so passionately when he ran for office, he would resign as Secretary of State. In related news, he will not resign as Secretary of State.”
Kylie Jane Kremer, a former producer for Sean Hannity, wrote on X: “This is so cute! John Bolton thinks SOS Marco Rubio and Advisor Mike Waltz should resign. Bless his warmongering heart.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Rubio will respond to Bolton’s call to resign.
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