President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated at his national security adviser John Bolton over a failed coup to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
The president has joked in recent days that Bolton wants to push him "into a war," according to a senior administration official, who added that Trump is genuinely dissatisfied with the national security adviser's views on intervening in foreign affairs, reported the Washington Post.
Trump has complained over the past week that Bolton and other aides underestimated Maduro, who he called a "tough cookie," according to three senior administration officials.
The president was frustrated that Bolton led him to believe Maduro could be overthrown last week, when U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó led mass street protests that turned deadly.
Maduro instead rejected an offer to leave the country, and two key government officials backed out of a plan to defect, and the Venezuelan leader mocked Trump and the "foolish" coup attempt backed by the U.S.
Venezuelan security forces on Wednesday arrested Edgar Zambrano, the vice president of the opposition-controlled congress.