Bolton Criticizes Trump's Handling of Iran War Despite Longtime Push for Regime Change

The former national security advisor says the president failed to prepare the public and coordinate with allies and the Iranian opposition.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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John Bolton, a longtime advocate for regime change in Iran, is criticizing the way President Trump is handling the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, despite Bolton's own longstanding push for military action against the country. Bolton argues Trump launched the war without properly preparing the public, building congressional support, or coordinating with allies and the Iranian opposition, which Bolton says could be key to collapsing the regime from within.

Why it matters

Bolton's criticism highlights the political challenges Trump faces in waging a war that lacks broad public and congressional support, even from hawkish figures like Bolton who have long championed military action against Iran. It also raises questions about the administration's strategic planning and coordination with internal Iranian opposition groups.

The details

Bolton told Newsweek's podcast that while the military is winning on the battlefield, the White House is losing the political war at home. He argued Trump should have made a prime-time Oval Office address to prepare the public in advance, and that the administration failed to effectively coordinate with Iranian opposition groups and potential army defectors who could help convert military pressure into regime collapse.

  • The U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran began 10 days ago.

The players

John Bolton

A veteran of four Republican administrations who served as national security advisor during the first Donald Trump administration before a high-profile falling out with the president. Bolton has long advocated for regime change in Iran.

Donald Trump

The current president of the United States, who launched the military campaign against Iran without what Bolton sees as adequate preparation and coordination.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The prime minister of Israel, whose government is participating in the military campaign against Iran.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not happy with the way Trump's going about it.”

— John Bolton, Former National Security Advisor (Newsweek)

“Trump would have been very well advised to prepare the public with this very powerful case in advance of actually attacking. That's what people normally do — maybe with an address from the Oval Office sitting behind the Resolute Desk at 9 p.m. My fellow Americans, I have something serious to talk to you about. Trump hasn't done that.”

— John Bolton, Former National Security Advisor (Newsweek)

“The most important thing I'm worried he hasn't done is coordinate effectively with the Iranian opposition, who will carry a major part of the burden inside Iran in actually overthrowing the regime.”

— John Bolton, Former National Security Advisor (Newsweek)

What’s next

The judge in Bolton's case will decide on whether to allow him to be released on bail.

The takeaway

Bolton's criticism of Trump's handling of the Iran war, despite his own longstanding advocacy for regime change, highlights the political challenges the president faces in waging a conflict that lacks broad public and congressional support, even from hawkish figures. It also raises questions about the administration's strategic planning and coordination with internal Iranian opposition groups.