US national security probe: FBI raids ex-NSA John Bolton's house; outspoken critic of Trump

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents raided the home of US President Trump’s former National Security Adviser, John Bolton, in Bethesda, Maryland on Friday, at 7 am (US time), in a high-profile national security investigation,

The federal agents conducted the raid as part of an investigation ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump administration official informed The New York Post.

Shortly after the operation commenced, Patel posted on X, stating, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”




The probe, which reportedly involves classified documents, was initially launched several years ago but was suspended by the Biden administration “for political reasons,” according to a senior US official.

John Bolton has previously faced accusations of including classified information in his 2020 book, “The Room Where it Happened.” President Trump attempted to prevent its publication, alleging that Bolton had breached a non-disclosure agreement signed as a condition of his employment.

However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The first-term Justice Department initiated an inquiry into the book in September 2020. Bolton has been vocal in his criticism of President Trump’s national security and foreign policy since leaving the administration, frequently appearing on cable news networks to express his views.

John Bolton: Outspoken critics of Trump's tariff on India

John Bolton, former National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, criticised the administration's tariff policies favouring China over India, describing them as a major error and counterproductive for the United States.

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Bolton argued that the tariffs "do not fit into America's grand geopolitical strategy as the US is levying tariffs on friend and foe alike." He added, "Unfortunately, based on international reactions so far, the U.S. by levying tariffs on friend and foe alike has likely suffered a considerable loss of trust and confidence, built up over decades of effort, in exchange for minimal economic gains — if any — and the risk of formidable losses."

Bolton warned that "The White House seems headed toward more lenient treatment for Beijing on tariff rates and other metrics than it imposed on New Delhi. If so, it will be a potentially enormous mistake." He noted that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had suggested China’s August 12 deadline could be extended "if negotiations looked promising."