President Donald Trump, noting John Bolton’s “strong views,” said he is satisfied with the foreign affairs advice from his national security adviser.
"He has strong views on things but that's okay,” Trump said of Bolton. “I actually temper John, which is pretty amazing. I'm the one that tempers him. That's okay. I have different sides. I have John Bolton and other people that are a little more dovish than him. I like John."
Trump’s comments came during a press conference in the Oval Office and were reported by Politico.
The Washington Post had reported Trump is complaining White House officials — including Bolton — underestimated embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after a bid to replace him with Juan Guaidó has come up short.
A senior administration official said the president has quipped Bolton wants to put him "into a war" in Venezuela. The comment was believed to have been made in a joking manner at first, but it is being taken more seriously now.