Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton calls Trump a “cancer on the Republican Party”

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton believes former President Donald Trump is a “cancer on the Republican Party” and says that it can only be cured if he steps aside from running as its presidential nominee.

Trump, who promises to “make America great again,” is facing criminal charges in New York related to hush money allegedly paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 US election. The 76 year old former president denies the charges, but his indictment has reignited calls for him to step aside as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.

Bolton has joined the chorus of voices calling for Trump to exit the race. In an interview with CBS, Bolton called Trump a “cancer on the Republican Party” and argued that the party’s future hinges on his departure from politics.

“I think what Republicans need to do to save the party and, frankly, to save the country, is they can be as concerned about poor Donald Trump being mistreated by this prosecutor as they want. But…the cure for that mistreatment is not to make Donald Trump the Republican presidential nominee. Those are two completely different subjects.”

Bolton went on to say that he’s saddened by the continued support that Trump receives from many Republicans. He warned that Trump’s indictment could even serve as “rocket fuel” for his presidential campaign.

“If Trump is acquitted or he gets the case dismissed because it’s not legally sufficient or for whatever reason, that will be rocket fuel, because he can say, ‘I told you it was a political prosecution, I told you I was being picked on, and now I’ve been vindicated.'”

Bolton also noted that a conviction would likely dampen Trump’s presidential ambitions, arguing that “if he’s convicted of a crime, I think most Americans actually don’t want a convicted felon to be their president.”

Trump denies any involvement in paying US$130,000 to Daniels during his 2016 campaign and has taken to his Truth Social platform to criticize New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is leading the prosecution.

“The Corrupt D.A. has no case,” Trump wrote. “What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial (it must be changed!), and a Trump Hating Judge, hand-selected by the Soros-backed D.A. (he must be changed!).”

Many Republican lawmakers joined Trump in criticizing the case as politically motivated, with some even accusing Bragg of election interference.

“Alvin Bragg’s decision to indict him is blatant election interference and a direct assault on the tens of millions of Americans who support him,” said Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has announced that she will join the New York Young Republican Club for a “peaceful protest of Alvin Bragg’s heinous attack” on Trump on April 4. However, other Republican leaders have distanced themselves from Trump, with some calling for him to retire from politics altogether.

Former adult movie star Stormy Daniels.