Rubio: ‘Hyperventilating’ about Bolton unfounded

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) criticized Democrats and others in the media on Friday for pushback to President Trump’s decision to tap former U.N. ambassador John Bolton to lead the National Security Council (NSC).

Rubio admonished critics for “hyperventilating” about Bolton’s past calls for a preemptive strike on North Korea, arguing that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the government of Iran should be the only ones afraid of Bolton’s agenda.

{mosads}

“John Bolton is a great addition to the White House. Some of the hyperventilating I am seeing online & on cable news is ridiculous,” Rubio tweeted. “The one’s who should be freaking out are #Iran Maduro #NorthKorea & terrorists. Bad news for them.”

John Bolton is a great addition to the White House. Some of the hyperventilating I am seeing online & on cable news is ridiculous. The one’s who should be freaking out are #Iran Maduro #NorthKorea & terrorists. Bad news for them. https://t.co/qXmPPPIZgD

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 23, 2018

Rubio linked to a Washington Post op-ed by conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt defending Bolton.

Trump named Bolton as his replacement for current national security adviser H.R. McMaster earlier this week in a move that signaled a shift to the right for the president’s foreign policy.

“It’s still sinking in, so I haven’t thought about it a great deal,” Bolton said after his appointment on Fox News.

Rubio was quick to praise Bolton’s appointment on Thursday, writing in a tweet that he knew Bolton “well” and calling him an “excellent choice” to lead the NSC.

“I know John Bolton well and believe he is an excellent choice who will do a great job as National Security Advisor,” Rubio said in a statement. “General McMaster has served, and will continue to serve, our nation well and I thank him for his service.”