Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
John Bolton, please don’t mention our coups
The neoconservative former diplomat has upset Washington insiders and spies by breaking an omerta about US involvement in regime change, says JOE GILL
John Bolton [Gage Skidmore/cc]

GOOD old John Bolton. The US diplomatic hawk, a veteran of US interventions from the Iran-Contra fiasco to his global troublemaking as national security adviser to Donald Trump, let the cat out of the bag this week.

CNN reporter Jake Tapper used Bolton’s vanity about his iniquitous record to coax him into talking about the regime change activities he had been part of during his 17 tumultuous months working for Trump. 

Tapper riled Bolton by saying: “One doesn’t have to be brilliant to attempt a coup.” Bolton took the bait, responding: “As somebody who has helped plan coups d’etat, not here, but, you know, other places. It takes a lot of work.” Tapper pressed him to say more about “what you need to do to be able to plan a coup, and you — you cited your expertise having planned coups.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to members of staff during a visit to Leonardo, a defence contractor in Luton, to launch UAS StormShroud into operational service, May 2, 2025
Features / 4 May 2025
4 May 2025

JOE GILL looks at research on the reasons people voted as they did last week and concludes Labour is finished unless it ditches Starmer and changes course

Mourners gather around the bodies of 8 Red Crescent emergenc
Features / 3 April 2025
3 April 2025
The massacre of Red Crescent and civil defence aid workers has elicited little coverage and no condemnation by major powers — this is the age of lawlessness, warns JOE GILL
The office of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and
Features / 2 March 2025
2 March 2025
The trio were given a conditional discharge and £600 penalties after painting ‘Stop arming Israel’ on Science Secretary Peter Kyle’s window in frustration at being ignored despite attempts to meet their MP, reports JOE GILL
Features / 23 January 2025
23 January 2025
JOE GILL hazards a guess: Musk’s salute was a message to all of the world’s far-right legions: now is our time
Similar stories
THE OTHER UKRAINE: The Saur-Mogila Soviet memorial near the city of Snizhne in Donetsk Oblast has been massively expanded in Soviet style, while in other parts of the country, Soviet statues were torn down
War / 13 May 2025
13 May 2025

As Britain marks 80 years since defeating fascism, it finds itself in a proxy war against Russia over Ukraine — DANIEL POWELL examines Churchill’s secret plan to attack our Soviet allies in 1945 and traces how Nato expansion, a Western-backed coup and neo-nazi activism contributed to todays' devastating conflict

Supporters gather for a pro-government rally in Caracas, Ven
Features / 12 August 2024
12 August 2024
ROGER D HARRIS and PETER BOLTON dissect how mainstream outlets normalise US interference, downplay sanctions' impact, and distort the reality of Venezuelan politics and popular will