This week, Donald Trump learned he had the power to revoke security clearances -- and as with all other powers he doesn't have to clear through Congress, he was quick to use it. Of course, being the narcissistic idiot that he is, he picked someone that had publicly been critical of him -- former CIA director John Brennan. This means current intelligence officials cannot now confer with Brennan (and get the benefit of his knowledge due to his decades of service), because they wouldn't be able to fully brief him. In other words, to stoke his own fragile ego, Trump has done damage to our intelligence services.
Here is what retired Navy Admiral William H. McRaven (commander of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014) had to say in response to Trump's ridiculous action:
Dear Mr. President: Former CIA director John Brennan, whose security clearance you revoked on Wednesday, is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him. Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency. Like most Americans, I had hoped that when you became president, you would rise to the occasion and become the leader this great nation needs. A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself. Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities. Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation. If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken. The criticism will continue until you become the leader we prayed you would be. And from Axios, here is what other officials have done:
Dr. Robert Gates — who served eight presidents, including stints as CIA director, and later as Defense Secretary for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama — just added his name to a stunning list of former intelligence officials who signed a letter criticizing the Brennan slap as "ill-considered and unprecedented":
