The former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton has warned that the shackles will be off for Donald Trump if he wins a second term.

Mr Bolton released his damning account of his 17 months under President Trump, “The Room Where it Happened,” earlier this year.

The book contains a host of revelations, from the US President begging his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for election assistance to his willingness to intervene in Justice Department investigations on behalf of foreign companies.

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Mr Bolton said that “over and over again,” President Trump’s foreign policy decisions were based on improving his own chances of re-election.

He said it is impossible to predict how he will act if he longer had to worry about a second term.

“I think the facts I lay out in the book show that, over and over again, in the national security space, Trump would make decisions not on the respective merits of the arguments for and against a certain action but on the basis of whether he would get blowback from Republicans in Congress,” he said.

“His decision making was based on political factors, almost to the exclusion of everything else.

“If he is re-elected in November and I think, despite the public opinion polls at the moment, I still think that is a real possibility, then that last protection, the need to continue popular support and support within the Republican Party disappears as a guard-rail.

“At that point, I am not sure it is really very predictable what his decisions will be since he doesn’t function on the basis of coherent philosophy or grand strategy or even consistent policy.”

US President Donald Trump speaks as National security advisor John Bolton listens during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, 22-05-2018. Image: Oliver Contreras / Pool via CNP

The 71-year-old said he fears the consequences of a second term for President Trump – both for the US and for the Republican Party.

“I think it would be a mistake, although Trump loves to hear it, to say that he now dominates the Republican party,” he said.

“I think after the election in November, whether he wins or loses, there is going to be a very serious debate about what the future of the party looks like.

“I am certainly looking forward to participating in that because I do think we can correct the damage he has caused – but we have to act soon.

“That is why I fear the consequences of a second term – both for the country and for the Republican Party.”

US President Donald Trump walks in the rain on the South Lawn of the White House, 11-06-2020. Image: Andrew Harnik/AP/Press Association Images

He said any damage caused to the reputation of the US by the Trump can be repaired “very quickly” but warned a second term would be harder to fix.

“I don’t think the damage is that great,” he said. “I think we have an anomaly in the White House and, if he loses, I am not going to be enthusiastic about Joe Biden’s foreign policy that is for sure.

“But if people really think Trump is reflective of America as a whole, they have badly misjudged the country. I think the damage can be repaired.

“I am more worried about a two-term presidency but I think a one-term presidency can be mitigated very quickly.”

You can listen back to the full interview here: