Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images white house Top Bolton aide out at White House Garrett Marquis, John Bolton's spokesman, ran communications for the National Security Council under Bolton.

The expected turnover at the National Security Council has begun.

A day after Trump ousted national security adviser John Bolton, Garrett Marquis, Bolton's top spokesman, has also departed the administration. Marquis ran communications for the NSC under Bolton, joining the administration shortly after Bolton came on board last year.


The longtime Bolton loyalist left the administration on good terms, a source familiar with the situation said, adding that it was simply a case of being lumped in with Trump’s third national security adviser.

“It was an honor to serve my country, and I wish the president and the administration success moving forward,” Marquis said in a statement.

Marquis previously served in the Bush administration, and for the late Sen. John McCain on both his 2008 presidential campaign and at his Senate office. Before joining the White House, Marquis was managing partner at the lobbying firm Prism Group and served as the spokesman for Bolton's super PAC. He also worked at an anti-Hillary Clinton super PAC before she ran for president in 2016.

Bolton's tenure at the White House was often contentious and ended in conflicting narratives — President Donald Trump insisted he had fired his adviser, while Bolton was adamant that he had resigned.

Anita Kumar contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Garrett Marquis.

This article tagged under: John Bolton