Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said that he would discuss the matter with Donald Trump. | AP Photo Former U.N. Amb. Bolton says he'd meet with Trump about secretary of state

John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, indicated on Tuesday that he would meet with Donald Trump to discuss the role of secretary of state if the Republican nominee were to reach out to him.

During an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, who has repeatedly encouraged Trump to name the members of his Cabinet ahead of the election, Bolton said that he would discuss the matter with Trump. Hewitt himself made the case to Trump in a June interview in which he offered several bits of unsolicited advice to the candidate as he turned his attention to the general election. In a subsequent interview earlier this month, Trump said his campaign was "thinking about" having Bolton as secretary of state.


Hewitt has often named Bolton as his personal choice to lead the State Department.

"I’d just say one thing about your interview with him, which of course, I listened to after I was told about your question, I think what he was saying really was responding when he said he was thinking about it, that what he was responding to your first and broader question about whether a presidential candidate should name some prospective Cabinet members before the election," Bolton commented. "And he had given you an answer where he had laid out the political downsides, which are real, I think, but indicated some interest in still thinking about it. And I think that’s what he was really meaning to say."

Hewitt acknowledged that there could have been different interpretations of what Trump might do, but pressed Bolton once more on whether Trump should name some or all of his Cabinet.

"Well, I think the point that he made that nobody’s really ever done it before tells you something about the political upsides and downsides, and I guess if I had to come out one way or the other, I’d say he should not for this reason," Bolton said. "I think what he needs to do for the next two months is focus incessantly on Hillary Clinton. And God knows there’s enough to focus on, because if people understand what she would really mean as president of the United States and the dangers and the risks of putting the Clintons back in the White House, I think they would flock to Donald Trump."

Hewitt responded, "But if my advice is better than your advice and he called you, you’d go have that meeting. Am I right, John Bolton?"

"I would," Bolton said. "I would follow your guidance, Hugh."

Hewitt thanked Bolton, addressing him as "Mr. Secretary" before quickly correcting himself and pronouncing it "a slip."

"Let’s hope that’s a fulfillment," Hewitt concluded.