The Wall Street Journal editorial board launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump following the FBI raid on former national security adviser John Bolton’s home and office on Friday, August 22, 2025. The conservative newspaper’s editorial board characterized the federal investigation as part of Trump’s “vendetta campaign” against political critics.
FBI agents conducted simultaneous searches of Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland, and his Washington office as part of what authorities described as a national security investigation into his handling of classified records. The operation lasted more than seven hours, with agents seen carrying bags and boxes of materials from the premises. Bolton’s wife’s cellphone was also confiscated during the raid.
The Journal’s editorial board argued that the investigation represented an escalation of Trump’s revenge campaign, describing it as vindictive in nature. The newspaper indicated that Trump’s approach to his second term has become increasingly focused on vengeance against former officials who criticized his administration.
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months during the first administration before departing in September 2019. The relationship soured after Bolton wrote “The Room Where It Happened,” a 2020 book detailing his White House experience. Trump unsuccessfully attempted to block the book’s publication, claiming it contained classified information despite the manuscript undergoing extensive pre-publication review at the White House.
The editorial board noted that Bolton has become a frequent television commentator, regularly criticizing Trump’s foreign policy decisions and alleging the president serves as a pawn for Russian President Vladimir Putin. These public criticisms appear to have intensified Trump’s animosity toward his former adviser, according to the newspaper’s analysis.
Trump took immediate action against Bolton upon returning to office in January 2025, revoking his security clearance and terminating his protective security detail despite ongoing threats against Bolton’s life related to his actions against Iran. The Journal characterized these moves as gratuitous viciousness that has defined Trump’s return to power.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media platform X shortly before news of the raid broke, stating that no one is above the law. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared Patel’s post, adding commentary about pursuing justice. The timing of these posts raised questions about coordination between law enforcement leadership and the White House.
When questioned by reporters during an unscheduled visit to the White House Historical Association on Friday, Trump claimed he was unaware of the raids and would remain distant from prosecutorial efforts. He indicated he expected to be briefed about the situation by the Justice Department but preferred not to know about such operations directly.
Vice President JD Vance defended the investigation during a Sunday interview with MSNBC’s Kristen Welker, stating that law enforcement agencies would be driven by law rather than politics. Vance indicated that if Bolton committed crimes, prosecutions would eventually follow, while distinguishing the current administration’s approach from what he characterized as political weaponization under the Biden administration.
The editorial board concluded that Trump represents the real offender in the situation, suggesting the president believes he can use his office’s powers to pursue personal vendettas. The newspaper stated that this type of retribution was precisely the risk they had warned about regarding a second Trump presidency, noting that the reality has exceeded their worst expectations.
This editorial criticism comes amid a broader feud between Trump and the Murdoch media empire. In July 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, the Journal, and its parent company Dow Jones over an article reporting about an allegedly inappropriate birthday letter Trump sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Justice Department has also initiated investigations into other Trump critics, including Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought civil fraud charges against Trump and his company. Former special counsel Jack Smith faces scrutiny from an independent watchdog office. These parallel investigations have raised concerns about systematic targeting of political opponents.
