Trump directly sought to block publication of Bolton's book: WaPo

Source: The Hill | February 21, 2020 | Brooke Seipel

President Trump has reportedly personally called for the publication of John Bolton’s upcoming book to be blocked, telling staff he thinks his former national security adviser is “a traitor,” according to The Washington Post.

People familiar with the issue told the Post that Trump has directly been involved in the process and believes everything he said to Bolton about national security is considered classified and should not be published. 

The White House already sought to block publication of Bolton’s book last month, writing in a letter that it contained “significant amounts of classified information.” However, the letter also stated that the White House would work with Bolton to ensure his “ability to tell his story in a manner that protects U.S. national security.”

The Post’s report marks the first alleged involvement by Trump in the process, with insiders telling the newspaper that Trump told his lawyers Bolton’s new book “The Room Where it Happened,” should not be published before the November election.

According to the Post, Trump also reportedly told national television anchors during an off-the-record Feb. 4 lunch meeting that the book’s material was “highly classified” and Bolton was a “traitor.”

“We’re going to try and block the publication of the book,” Trump reportedly said during the meeting. “After I leave office, he can do this. But not in the White House.”

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