Wall Street Journal Criticizes Trump Over Vindictive Bolton FBI Raid

The Wall Street Journal editorial board has fiercely criticized President Donald Trump for the FBI's raid on former national security adviser John Bolton's home and office, labeling it a "vendetta campaign" driven by political vengeance. Despite Trump's campaign promise to avoid retribution against opponents in his second term, the raid and related actions, including the termination of Bolton's protective security detail, are viewed by the Journal as manifestations of gratuitous viciousness defining Trump's return to office. Bolton, a vocal critic of Trump since leaving the administration, authored a book during Trump's presidency that the president unsuccessfully tried to block, and the raid is seen as a punitive measure regardless of legal outcomes. The investigation, reportedly reignited under FBI Director Kash Patel, is widely interpreted as influenced by Trump's personal animus, with the Journal emphasizing that the current administration's aides no longer act as checks on the president's impulses. Vice President JD Vance has downplayed claims of political retribution, suggesting broader concerns prompted the probe. Overall, the Journal asserts that this episode exemplifies the risks and darker realities of Trump's second term, where personal vendettas appear to overshadow governance.