John Bolton Gets Testy When Asked Why He Hasn’t Listened to Khashoggi Murder Tape: ‘I Don’t Speak Arabic’

During the first White House briefing in nearly a month, National Security Adviser John Bolton balked at suggestions he should listen to the tape of journalist Jamal Khashoggi‘s grisly murder, claiming it was useless to him since he doesn’t speak Arabic.

As a reporter pressed him on the issue Tuesday, Bolton admitted he hasn’t bothered hearing the recording.

“No, I haven’t listened to it,” he said, asking, “Why do you think I should? What do you think I’ll learn from it?”

The reporter then noted that as a top national security official, he “might have access to that sort of intelligence.”

Instead of providing a direct response, Bolton then polled the room on how many of those present speak Arabic, the reporter then interjecting again to note he has access to interpreters.

Still, Bolton contended it didn’t matter since he personally couldn’t understand the language.

“If they were speaking Korean, I wouldn’t learn any more from it either,” he said, noting he could read a transcript if he wanted to.

“I’m just trying to make the point that everybody who says why don’t up listen to the tape, unless you speak Arabic, what are you going to get from it? The president has spoken to our position on this issue. He’s spoken very clearly and that is our position.”

Bolton then tried to move on from the topic until April Ryan, a noted watchdog in the briefing room, demanded answers.

“Why not get a translator to understand, to hear what happened?” she asked. “You could find out a little bit more than what they’ve told you?”

Standing firm on his decision, Bolton said, “People who speak Arabic have listened to the tape and they have given us the substance of what’s in it,” again stating, “I don’t speak Arabic.”
Though Ryan pointed out that regardless of the language, the tape likely conveys emotion, Bolton said he remains “very satisfied that we know what the tape picked up and it was factored into the president’s decision and he’s announced his position very clearly.”

Watch the clips above via CNN.