CIA/INTELLIGENCE/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump on Friday [8-17-18] said he ‘never respected’ former CIA Director John Brennan and warned that he may strip security clearances from other current and former officials ‘very quickly.’ While speaking with reporters on the South Lawn Friday, Trump doubled down on his action to remove Brennan’s clearance, which has sparked accusations that Trump is abusing his power and trying to silence his critics. The president’s comments come after more than a dozen former top intelligence officials released a letter on Thursday, describing Trump’s decision as a political move that has ‘everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech.’ The White House announced Wednesday that it was revoking Brennan’s clearance and reviewing the clearance of a number of other former officials, including former National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who both signed on to the letter. One significant late add to the letter was former Defense Secretary Bob Gates, who has remained mostly tight-lipped about Trump’s administration.”
–Rebecca Morin, “Trump: I ‘never respected’ Brennan,” Politico, August 17, 2018 10:30 am