New National Security Adviser John Bolton has a view of the world that will help President Donald Trump keep the United States more safe, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Friday.
"He believes stronger than anybody North Korea having an ICBM, nuclear-tipped missile to hit America is a non-starter," the South Carolina Republican told Fox News' "Fox & Friends."
"He believes the Iranian agreement is a terrible deal for the world, United States and Israel. He believes in a strong military, going after terrorists, taking the gloves off. He is a diplomat. But he understands that if you're going to deal with thugs like the ayatollah in Iran, you have to be taken seriously."
Graham also said he thinks Bolton will help Trump shape policies that will "make us all safer," and that with Bolton, "the era of leading from behind is over. John Bolton is a leading from the front kind of guy."
The senator pointed out that a few weeks ago, Bolton wrote an opinion piece stating that as a "last resort," the United States should use preemptive military force if that is the only thing left that will stop North Korea from building a nuclear weapon that can reach the states.
"He believes in the military option as a last resort," said Graham. "The only reason [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un is meeting with President Trump is [he] convinced the Chinese and the North Koreans that he's different. Donald Trump has been one hell of a good commander-in-chief."
Outgoing National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster has "helped reset the world," but Bolton is the "right guy at the right time" to help reinforce Trump's instincts.
"One of the big losers in this is going to be Russia," Graham also said.
Also on Friday, Graham discussed the $1.3 trillion budget that has been approved by Congress, telling the program that the $650 billion allowed for the Department of Defense is good news, as it will mean more money for training and readiness for the troops.
"I'm very excited the president fulfilled a campaign promise to set aside sequestration cuts to rebuild the military," said Graham. "He has one hell of a team around him right now. Mike Pompeo is all-star. Bolton, Pompeo, [James] Mattis, [John] Kelly. I feel good where America is going on the foreign policy front. I want to help this president any way I can."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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