National security adviser John Bolton warned on Sunday that there is “sufficient” concern from national security officials that China, Iran, and North Korea are interfering in the 2018 midterm elections, in addition to Russia.
“I can say definitively that it’s a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling, and North Korean meddling that we’re taking steps to try and prevent it,” Bolton told ABC’s “This Week.”
“This are the four countries we’re most concerned about,” he added.
NEW: National security adviser John Bolton says in addition to Russia, there’s “sufficient national security concern” that China, Iran, and North Korea are meddling in the 2018 U.S. elections.
“Those are the four countries that we’re most concerned about” https://t.co/5DMKk99wXZ pic.twitter.com/oUldR6JX57
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 19, 2018
President Trump tweeted Saturday that those people concerned with Russian meddling in the November midterm elections should also look to China.
“All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China,” he warned.
[Opinion: China admits to (indirectly) meddling in US elections]
All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018
Bolton declined to clarify whether the U.S. had seen evidence either presently or in the past showing China had meddled in the political system.
Last month, Trump warned, without evidence, that Russia is “fighting very hard” to boost Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections. Soon after, key members of Trump’s national security team told reporters that they are ready to counter any Russian meddling efforts this tear.
