Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty on June 26, 2026, to unlawfully retaining national defense information. Bolton admitted to sharing classified "diary" notes containing sensitive intelligence with unauthorized family members, some of which were later compromised by a cyberattack allegedly linked to Iran. His plea agreement includes a potential prison sentence of up to five years and a $2.25 million fine, with sentencing scheduled for October.

Concurrently, President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on all goods from European nations that enact a digital services tax targeting U.S. companies. Announcing this via social media on the same day, Trump stated that these tariffs would be immediate and override existing trade agreements. This declaration from Trump occurs amidst ongoing political tensions and follows a February Supreme Court ruling that limited the President's authority to impose such widespread tariffs, though the EU has indicated it will respond decisively to protect its interests.