President Trump reportedly denied Wednesday that he was targeting Democratic administration alumni after he revoked former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance over his “erratic behavior.”
Brennan’s clearance was pulled after the White House in July released a list of former intelligence and law enforcement officials, mostly staunch Trump critics, whose access to sensitive information was being reviewed by the administration.
But Trump Wednesday insisted yanking Brennan’s clearance without apparent cause was not politically motivated.
[Opinion: Trump is wrong to suspend John Brennan’s clearance]
I “would put a Republican on, too, if I thought they were incompetent or crazy,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal, seeming to refer to the White House’s list of names.
He added that he had been prepared to make the Brennan announcement last week while he was staying at his exclusive golf club in Bedminster, N.J., but it was too “hectic.”
Intelligence community commentators, including ex-CIA Director Michael Hayden and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, expressed concern Wednesday that the Brennan decision amounted to an infringement of free speech.
Brennan, now an MSNBC contributor, has not been shy about his dislike of Trump, calling him an “abnormal” president.
The revocation of his clearance comes as the White House fends off attacks leveled at the administration by former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, who is promoting her controversial tell-all book.
Brennan headed the CIA as part of the Obama administration. However, he also served former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush.
