The Brief:

• Former President Trump discussed his tenure on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” highlighting both accomplishments, such as nominating three Supreme Court justices, and mistakes, particularly in appointing disloyal individuals.
• He expressed dissatisfaction with certain appointees, like Gen. John Kelly and John Bolton, criticizing them for not aligning with his expectations and labeling them as disloyal and problematic.
• Trump also criticized past military interventions in the Middle East under George W. Bush, describing them as mistakes that should have been avoided.

In an engaging discussion on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast last Friday, former President Donald Trump reflected on his tenure in the White House, highlighting both his accomplishments and the challenges he faced. Among the accomplishments he took pride in was his success in nominating three justices to the Supreme Court. However, it wasn’t all a walk in the park for Mr. Trump, who openly admitted that the gravest error of his presidency was appointing individuals who later proved to be disloyal.

Donald Trump says his biggest mistake was hiring John Bolton.

There are many “wolves in MAGA hats,” as Julian Assange said, and Trump should make sure he doesn't hire someone with the same ideas, like Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, Tom Cotton, and Marco Rubio. pic.twitter.com/DSTTQXXjya

— Liam McCollum (@MLiamMcCollum) October 26, 2024

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“The biggest mistake I made was picking some people who didn’t stand by me,” Mr. Trump explained during the interview. He acknowledged appointing several outstanding individuals but lamented over a few choices that didn’t align with his expectations.

The conversation took a more pointed turn when Joe Rogan, the show’s host, inquired if Mr. Trump’s regrets included appointing neoconservatives—often referred to as “neocons.” Agreeing, Mr. Trump broadened his classification of regrettable picks to include “neocons or bad people or disloyal people.”

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Highlighting specific examples, Mr. Trump expressed discontent with retired Marine Gen. John Kelly and John Bolton. Gen. Kelly transitioned from serving as Homeland Security Secretary to becoming Chief of Staff, while Bolton held the position of National Security Adviser.

Mr. Kelly’s recent comments to The New York Times added fuel to Mr. Trump’s grievances. According to reports by The Times this week, Kelly accused Mr. Trump of praising Adolf Hitler and fitting the definition of a fascist.

Reflecting on Kelly’s critique, Mr. Trump dismissed him as “a bully” and “a weak person.” He also criticized Bolton as an “idiot,” despite acknowledging some benefits from Bolton’s intense demeanor during international dealings.

“He was good in a certain way because every time we had negotiations with another country and they saw him \[Bolton], they got nervous, thinking we might go to war,” said Mr. Trump about Bolton’s impact during diplomatic engagements.

Mr. Trump also shared his views on previous military interventions in the Middle East under former President George W. Bush’s administration, labeling them as misguided decisions that should have been avoided.

Throughout the interview, it became clear that while proud of certain achievements during his presidency—like shaping the Supreme Court—Mr. Trump harbors significant regrets about some of his personnel choices, which he believes undermined his administration’s potential.

What are your thoughts on former President Trump’s reflections about his presidency and the individuals he appointed? Do you believe his criticisms were justified, or do you think there were other factors at play that impacted his administration’s effectiveness?

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