Trump's Poor Negotiation Skills Highlighted by Ex-Aide

John Bolton is an American attorney and government official known for his long career in Republican administrations and a consistently hardline approach to U.S. foreign policy. Born on November 20, 1948, in Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated summa cum laude from Yale University (B.A.) and later earned his J.D. from Yale Law School[2]. Bolton began his public service in the early 1980s under President Ronald Reagan, holding positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development and as Assistant Attorney General (1985–1989)[1]. He served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs under President George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)[1][2]. During the George W. Bush administration, Bolton was appointed Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security (2001–2005), where he supported U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and opposed the International Criminal Court[1]. His nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations was controversial; facing bipartisan Senate opposition, he was installed via a recess appointment in August 2005, serving until December 2006[1][3]. At the UN, Bolton was known for his blunt, confrontational style, famously remarking that the Secretariat building “has 38 stories. If it lost 10 stories today, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference”[3]. His tenure was marked by tensions with UN officials and allies, and he achieved few major diplomatic breakthroughs[3]. Bolton returned to private life as a commentator, notably for Fox News, where he advocated aggressive stances on Iran and North Korea[3]. In April 2018, President Donald Trump appointed him National Security Advisor, a role he held until September 2019[1][5]. During this period, Bolton was a vocal advocate for a tough line on Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea, but his tenure ended abruptly amid reported policy disagreements with the president[1]. Since leaving government, Bolton has remained a prominent conservative voice, authoring books and frequently commenting on foreign policy. His memoirs, including “The Room Where It Happened,” have been notable for their critical insider accounts of the Trump administration. Bolton continues to influence foreign policy debates through media appearances and writings, maintaining relevance as a staunch advocate for assertive American global leadership[6].

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].

Vladimir Putin is the current President of Russia, a position he has held for multiple terms since 2000, with a brief interlude as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012[1][3]. Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1952, Putin began his career in the Soviet Union’s security services, joining the KGB in 1975 and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he left in 1991, following postings in East Germany and Leningrad[4]. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, he transitioned into politics, serving as an adviser to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and later moving to Moscow, where he held various administrative roles under President Boris Yeltsin[6]. Putin was appointed Prime Minister in August 1999 and became acting President when Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned that December[3][6]. He won his first presidential election in March 2000, promising to stabilize Russia’s economy and political system after the tumultuous 1990s[3][7]. During his initial terms, he centralized power, reasserted federal control over Russia’s regions, and curtailed the influence of the country’s oligarchs through legal and economic measures[7]. Putin was re-elected in 2004 but, due to constitutional term limits, stepped aside in 2008, becoming Prime Minister under his successor Dmitry Medvedev, while retaining significant influence[3]. Constitutional amendments later extended presidential terms, and Putin returned to the presidency in 2012[1]. Putin’s time in office has been marked by assertive foreign policy, including military interventions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad and the 2014 annexation of Crimea, which led to international sanctions[1]. Domestically, his tenure has seen increased state control over media, the suppression of political opposition, and constitutional changes consolidating executive authority[1]. In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a major international crisis, further isolating Russia from the West and prompting widespread condemnation[1]. As of 2025, Putin remains a dominant figure in Russian politics, having secured another term in office through constitutional changes that allow him to potentially remain president until 2036[1]. His leadership continues to shape Russia’s domestic trajectory and its role in global affairs, amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and strained relations with NATO and Western countries[1].