President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was made at the last minute after serious disagreements among White House aides, NBC News has learned. In particular, the new national security adviser, John Bolton, helped convince Trump to back out, blindsiding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The president, fearing the North Koreans might beat him to the punch, wanted to be the one to cancel first, multiple officials told NBC News.