Thread by @kristina_wong

"Friendliest audience I've had in a long time," @AmbJohnBolton jokes about receiving a standing ovation at the #NationalConservatism conference.

@AmbJohnBolton Getting lots of applause during the intro. The crowd loves him.

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton says Edmund Burke understood the foundational element of foreign policy is nationalism.

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton says there are threats out there that "require a very tough attitude," not for the sake of toughness, but for the sake of America.

@AmbJohnBolton Cold War with #China? Bolton says there are "elements of Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilization." Says national, political, military power rests on economic power. And if one country is abusing the system to take advantage of the U.S., that should stop.

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton: "The Chinese have played the WTO like a fiddle for 20 years." Says they have taken advantage of us and everyone else.

@AmbJohnBolton Says he thinks the US is entitled to use economic pressure "as far as it can" when a country or company is hurting America, which it is doing with Iran and Huawei.

(Applause from audience).

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton: "I think it's important to get past the bumper stickers." Says the media loves to put tags on people -- neoconservative, liberal interventionist, etc. ... "My answer is very simple -- pro-American."

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton notes the disparity in treatment from the media when Obama called NATO members "free riders," versus when Trump called NATO to pay more: theguardian.com/us-news/blog/2…

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton on international organizations/institutions: "This is a long struggle." Says he does not think these institutions should govern America. "I do not believe in supranational government."

@AmbJohnBolton On Venezuela, Bolton says there are "aspects of broader international threats as well." Says if the 20K or more Cuban troops left tomorrow, the Maduro government would fall by midnight. Says 54 governments have recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader.

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton says he believes in an open, legal immigration policy. "I believe in the melting pot. I believe in Americanization."

@AmbJohnBolton On a question about him being a "hawk," says, "It's one of these bumper stickers that people like to advocate. I like to solve problems..."

@AmbJohnBolton Calls Justice Clarence Thomas the most effective conservative on the Supreme Court.

@AmbJohnBolton Bolton: "In some cases, the ground is not ready for representative government...Democracy is not simply holding an election."

@AmbJohnBolton What should US do abt Russia's "growing soft power"?

Bolton says I don't think it has growing soft power, remains a threat in interfering in elections including our own, says we interfered in their mechanisms to interfere in our election. (Think he's talking abt 2018 elections?)

@AmbJohnBolton Says attacking Islamic extremism is not attacking Islam.

On Africa: "I think Africa has a bright future and I think the United States should participate in it."

@AmbJohnBolton Says, "I don't know why anyone would want to study at Harvard anyway."

Huge roar of laughter from Harvard (or maybe Princeton) alum in the audience. 😒

@AmbJohnBolton Says foreign students studying in the U.S. will make them more pro-American.

@AmbJohnBolton .@AmbJohnBolton on @TuckerCarlson being another keynote speaker at this conference: "I'm delighted to be after him...That's called a diplomatic answer."