ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has fired National Security Advisor John Bolton over strong policy disagreements, vowing to appoint a successor next week.
Trump said on Twitter that he asked Bolton for his resignation Monday night, a timeline disputed by the ousted top aide.
"I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning," Trump said. "I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week."
Bolton later issued a tweet of his own saying he offered to resign Monday night, "and President Trump said, 'Let's talk about it tomorrow'."
Bolton, a controversial former U.S. ambassador to the UN, was Trump's third national security advisor following retired Army Gen. H.R. McMaster and retired Army Gen. Mike Flynn. Flynn lasted just 24 days before he left the administration in disgrace over revelations that he misled top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his contacts with Russian officials.
Bolton was expected to brief reporters alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin later Tuesday afternoon in the White House press briefing room. But it is uncertain if he will still take part in that briefing.