There are ministers or officials in some political departments who play a leading role in their country’s policies and administration, forming the nation’s direction and leaving a more important historical imprint than their superiors. I thought about this as I read about the dismissal of John Bolton, who came to the post of America’s national security adviser with a reputation for being a hardline conservative and hawkish politician. As soon as he came to office, US attitudes with Venezuela and North Korea became more severe.

However, his policies did not fit the “deep state,” as represented by the State Department, the Department of Defense, the CIA and the Treasury, who make recommendations to President Trump. As a result, Bolton was politically marginalized and finally sacked.

History has many examples of other officials who have left their mark on countries and regions of the world. The Arab world is today the product of the British diplomat and military officer Mark Sykes, and the French diplomat and military officer, François Georges-Picot, whose names in history are far more important than their superiors of that era.

And there was the well-known US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who formulated the policy of his country in the Far East and concentrated on the Middle East in a way that continues to have a profound effect decades after his departure from office. He was followed by national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who devised a strategy for America in confrontations with rising powers, such as China, and whose views still influence US policymakers.

Of course, during the era of President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice launched the project of creative chaos, which laid the groundwork for the Arab Spring and Vice President Dick Cheney led the administration in the invasion of Iraq and overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

In the era of President Barack Obama there was Hillary Clinton, who managed American reactions to the consequences of the Arab Spring and played an important role in promoting the use of modern technology, especially social media, to support the democratic movement in the world.

In the current era, President Donald Trump has not allowed anyone to remain in any position long enough to produce the required influence and effectiveness. The current administration is like a revolving door for most employees. There is a personal desire for President Trump to be different, as can be seen in his pictures with North Korean President Kim, his clash with his allies in Europe, the image he is now seeking with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his unwillingness to escalate America’s relations with Russia.

In order to emphasize that he is a different kind of president, he resorts to the sudden dismissal of staff and late night tweets that remind the world that he is in charge in the White House. The Donald Trump era has no place for anyone more influential than the president, and that is not necessarily good news.