--- title: Jeb Bush Blasts Donald Trump's 'Shocking Lack of Knowledge' description: Jeb Bush penned an op-ed slamming Donald Trump's "shocking lack of knowledge" on foreign policy and security issues. canonical: https://time.com/4080240/donald-trump-jeb-bush-9-11/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-20T20:03:28.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:43:44.986Z article:section: Politics og:title: Bush Blasts Trump's 'Shocking Lack of Knowledge' og:description: He penned an op-ed on Trump's foreign policy thinking. og:url: https://time.com/4080240/donald-trump-jeb-bush-9-11/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt44ea9a11e5162879/69886411196cf459da03813e/donald-trump-jeb-bush1.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump (L) and Jeb Bush argue during the presidential debates at the Reagan Library on September 16, 2015 in Simi Valley, California. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Bush Blasts Trump's 'Shocking Lack of Knowledge' twitter:description: He penned an op-ed on Trump's foreign policy thinking. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt44ea9a11e5162879/69886411196cf459da03813e/donald-trump-jeb-bush1.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Jeb Bush Blasts Donald Trump's 'Shocking Lack of Knowledge' On Security Issues > Sponsored content. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Oct 20, 2015 8:03 PM UTC  Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Jeb Bush argue during the presidential debates at the Reagan Library on September 16, 2015 in Simi Valley, California. Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Jeb Bush argue during the presidential debates at the Reagan Library on September 16, 2015 in Simi Valley, California. Justin Sullivan—2015 Getty Images  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Oct 20, 2015 8:03 PM UTC In the latest round of the never-ending fight between Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, the former Florida Governor penned an op-ed slamming the real estate mogul’s “shocking lack of knowledge” on foreign policy and security issues. “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Bush wrote in [a piece](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/425837/jeb-bush-donald-trump-national-security-choice) published at National Review. “And his bluster overcompensates for a shocking lack of knowledge on the complex national-security challenges that will confront the next president of the United States.” Bush outlines specific grievances against Trump, including the time that he said he wished Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton had led nuclear negotiations with Iran and the fact that he thinks the United States should not have invaded Afghanistan. “I am ready to be Commander-in-Chief and lead America during a time of increasing turmoil around the world. Donald Trump has failed to demonstrate the temperament and understanding of our nation’s challenges needed to live up to that responsibility,” Bush writes. The candidates’ spat can be traced to earlier this month, when Trump [seemed to blame George W. Bush](http://time.com/4077095/jeb-bush-trump-pathetic/), Jeb’s brother, for the terrorist attacks on September 11 that occurred during his presidency. Trump then followed up by saying that he could have [prevented the attacks](http://time.com/4077615/donald-trump-bush-september-11/). Bush, meanwhile, called Trump “pathetic” for those comments and criticized him for treating his campaign [like reality television](http://time.com/4077521/jeb-bush-donald-trump-foreign-policy/). ### See Donald Trump Hanging Out With Unlikely Celebrities  Donald Trump, owner of New York's Trump Tower, holds the bridle of a polo pony while talking to Andy Warhol on Nov. 4, 1983. Mario Suriani—AP  Donald Trump, Don King and Barbara Walters on Dec. 12, 1987. Ron Galella—Getty Images  Professional Wrestler Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant With Donald Trump. Russell Turiak—Getty Images  Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, his wife, actress Robin Givens and Donald Trump, leave the New York State Supreme Court building on July 22, 1988. Charles Wenzelberg—AP  Developer Donald Trump is flanked by super middleweight champion Thomas Hearns, left, of Detroit, and Michael Olajide of Canada at a news conference in New York on Feb. 15, 1990. Timothy Clary—AP  Alec Baldwin is joined by Donald Trump and Melania Knauss at benefit for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on October 8, 1999. Richard Corkery—NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images  Katie Couric, left, co-host of NBC-TV's "Today" show, is dressed like Donald Trump, right, during a spoof of his "The Apprentice" reality television show, on the morning program's annual Halloween segment on Oct. 29, 2004. Richard Drew—AP  Donald Trump and Larry King arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, left, and Donald Trump appear onstage at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Martha Stewart and Donald Trump at Richard "Skip" Bronson's, "The War at the Shore" Book Publication Party held at Loews Regency Hotel in New York City on June 11, 2012. Sylvain Gaboury—Sipa USA  Tiger Woods stands with Donald Trump as he holds the Gene Serazen Cup for winning the Cadillac Championship golf tournament on March 10, 2013, in Doral, Fla. Wilfredo Lee—AP  Donald Trump and recording artist and host Nick Jonas joke around onstage during the 2013 Miss USA pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas. 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