Bolton is consistent. He has consistently been a warmongering villain. Like many other USA "international security experts" he has never shied away from lying in pursuit of his terrible goals. I'm not eager to believe a story from him that only Trump or Xi could contradict, if they even cared to do so.

But sure, Trump could have said it. He could say anything at any time. As he sees it, he got elected by promising to bully minorities. In office, he has bullied minorities. It's not surprising that during negotiations he would attempt to find common ground through shared appreciation of commonplace governmental activities.