John Bolton breaks his silence after Trump impeachment: 'I knew what I was getting into' – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Duke did not allow audio recording or livestreaming at the main event. Interviewer Peter Feaver, a professor of political science and public policy at the university, is understood to have told the audience that the restrictions were due to Bolton’s contract.

But journalists present at the event live tweeted Bolton’s comments as the pair spoke on stage.

Asked about Trump’s tweets about him, Bolton is reported to have said he could not comment, pending a White House review of the manuscript for his forthcoming book. “He tweets, but I can’t’t talk about it. How fair is that? ” he said, according to one reporter present

When asked on Monday what it was like to staff Trump’s meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Bolton reportedly said : “To pursue the right policies for America, I was willing to put up with a lot. ”

“I’m not asking for martyrdom,” he added. “I knew, I think I knew, what I was getting into.”

According to CNN , Bolton and his lawyers have been battling with the White House about the book, scheduled to be published under the title The Room Where it Happened next month.

The Trump administration is reportedly concerned about the inclusion of classified information protected by executive privilege. CNN reports that the White House records management is reviewing the book.

During Monday’s talk, he appeared to repeatedly trail the memoir.

On the subject of Helsinki, he also replied – reportedly to audience groans: “I could read a chapter form my book here and give you the answer to that question.”

After a question about whether he agreed with Trump that his (July call was “perfect”,(he (said) : “You will love chapter 18. ”

He also stated referred to “censorship” of the manuscript. “This is an effort to write history… We’ll see what happens with the censorship,” (he) said

.

Outside the venue, dozens of protesters gathered for a “The People v John Bolton Rally”. A Facebook page promoting the event described Bolton as “architect of the Iraq war, Islamophobe and war criminal” and criticized Duke for hosting him as an “esteemed speaker”.

His Duke visit is the first of two university appearances this week. On Wednesday he is due to speak with Barack Obama national security adviser Susan Rice at Vanderbilt University in Nashville on the subject of “defining US global leadership”.