Former White House national security adviser John Bolton sharply criticized the Biden administration Sunday for speaking publicly against the possibility of Israel striking nuclear sites or oil fields in Iran.
In an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” host Chris Stirewalt asked Bolton about President Biden’s remarks Friday, when Biden said at a press conference, “If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields.”
Bolton said when he first heard those remarks, as well as Biden’s comment opposing Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, “My first reaction was, it was just incompetence, or maybe it was mental capacity, or lack thereof.”
Bolton said, however, that he thinks now Biden is trying to stave off any broader conflict ahead of the November election.
“But I think it’s pretty clear — because of a number of things he said, including one day last week saying, well, the Israeli attack won’t occur tonight — I think he’s trying to pressure Israel. I think he’s trying to put him in a box. I think all he cares about is avoiding this becoming a bigger issue than it already is before Nov. 5,” Bolton said, noting that he thinks petroleum prices are “one aspect” of that dynamic.
Bolton suggested he didn’t think Israel would necessarily heed America’s advice, noting Israel is in a difficult situation in a “tough neighborhood,” adding, “they can’t really calibrate what they’re going to do to suit Joe Biden’s electoral concerns. They’ll make up their minds in Jerusalem when they think they’re ready and they reach agreement inside the Cabinet.”
Bolton further criticized Biden for wading into the public debate on what steps Israel ought to take now.
“I just think it’s wrong for an American president to speak publicly about what an American ally might do to an American enemy,” Bolton said. “We sure wouldn’t appreciate it if our quote, unquote allies were doing that to us.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for a response.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.