MARTHA MACCALLUM (HOST): So in terms of the substance of that discussion with Vladimir Putin, you know, your thoughts on the fact that the president did congratulate him on his election. 

JOHN BOLTON: I don't consider it a significant point one way or the other, really. I’ve said congratulations to a lot of people, foreign diplomats and officials. It's a matter of being polite. The president had other subjects to bring up according to press reporting. I was not involved in any way in the preparations for it. The election just took place. I think it's a matter of courtesy more than anything else. 

Previously:

Trump’s new national security adviser has a record of warmongering, bigotry, and more

John Bolton calls for US intervention in Iran: “We need to bring that regime down”

Video: Fox News is leading the charge toward a possible nuclear war with North Korea