Washington | A few months ago Donald Trump hosted Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, in the Oval Office. Gesturing to his mustachioed national security adviser, the US president said: “John, is Ireland one of those countries you want to invade?” The resulting laughter was apparently strained.

John Bolton’s firing — or resignation, depending on whom you believe — removes the most hawkish voice from Mr Trump’s administration.

Financial Times