Incoming National Security Adviser John Bolton praised President Trump’s $60 billion in tariffs on China, calling them “a little shock therapy” to get the country to promote fair trade.
Bolton will replace current security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster in April. Bolton defended the tariffs the president announced on Thursday and sparked turmoil on the stock market.
He said on host John Catsimatidis’ Sunday radio show that China has taken advantage of its place in world trade organizations.
“The Chinese have stolen intellectual property, patent information copyrights and trademarks, business secrets,” he said. “They just copy it and build their own. It’s theft.”
He said the U.S. is asking for China to abide by its trade agreements and said the tariffs “could be a little shock therapy.”
Bolton, a known defense hawk, added North Korea is worried “they’ve got a very different president here in the White House than Barack Obama. They’re worried about the pressure that the president has already put on [them],” he said.
He also downplayed President Trump’s decision to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his presidential election that was widely regarded as fraudulent.
“I think the president saw it as a courtesy to say congratulations,” he said. “It doesn’t carry with it a moral judgment on the election.”
