Trump Claims Bolton Book Is ‘Lies’ And ‘Classified’ – It Can’t Be Both

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: National Security Advisor John Bolton (R) listens to U.S. President Donald Trump talk to reporters during a meeting of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House February 12, 2019 in Washington, DC. Trump said he was not happy about the compromise legislation agreed to by Republicans and Democrats that would prevent a new partial federal government shutdown but said he would accept the deal. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Donald Trump claims that his former national security adviser is a liar. He also says Bolton’s new book contains classified information. Which one is it, Mr. President? Because it can’t be both.

Classified information is by its very nature, factual. There is no such thing as a classified lie, at least in theory.

Business Insider writes:

Michael McFaul, who served as the US ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, said: “You cannot be releasing classified information and lying at the same time. Trump has to pick one attack against Bolton and stick with it.”

If Bolton were willing just to cavalierly lie (as Trump claims), why would he have also gone to the trouble to report information with such specificity that some of it is (allegedly) classified? Hard for the book to be both a pack of lies and full of truthful classified material.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 18, 2020

Washington Post White House bureau chief Philip Rucker explained on MSNBC’s 11th Hour.

.@PhilipRucker: On the one hand they're saying Bolton is lying… but on the other hand, they're saying 'No, no, this is classified information,' … But by definition, as we all know, classified information is factual information.

Learn more: https://t.co/Dk1v5wbhhz #11thHour pic.twitter.com/OWFEzrC1au
— 11th Hour (@11thHour) June 18, 2020