CIA director John Brennan warns Donald Trump to watch what he says, be careful on Russia
Updated
Outgoing CIA director John Brennan has issued a stern parting rebuke to President-elect Donald Trump, advising him not to absolve Russia for its recent actions and warning him to watch what he says.
Key points:
- Mr Brennan says Mr Trump should make sure he "understands" implications and impact of spontaneous statements
- Says Mr Trump has "tremendous responsibility" to ensure national security interests are protected
- Comments lay bare simmering tensions between Republican, intelligence community
Mr Brennan's comments laid bare the simmering tensions between the Republican and the intelligence community he has criticised and is on the verge of commanding.
The CIA director said Mr Trump needed to be mindful about his off-the-cuff remarks once he takes the oath of office on Friday, alluding to his penchant for making broad pronouncements on Twitter.
"Spontaneity is not something that protects national security interests and so therefore when he speaks or when he reacts, just make sure he understands that the implications and impact on the United States could be profound," Mr Brennan said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
"It's more than just about Mr Trump. It's about the United States of America."
Mr Trump last week accused the intelligence community of leaking information about an unsubstantiated report on compromising information the Russians have accumulated against Mr Trump.
On Twitter, he accused intelligence agencies of practices reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
"What I do find outrageous is equating intelligence community with Nazi Germany," Mr Brennan said.
"I do take great umbrage at that."
Mr Brennan also questioned the message it sends to the world if the President-elect broadcasts he does not have confidence in the United States' own intelligence agencies.
"Now that he's going to have an opportunity to do something for our national security as opposed to talking and tweeting, he's going to have tremendous responsibility to make sure that US and national security interests are protected," Mr Brennan said.
For months, Mr Trump had publicly doubted US intelligence conclusions that Russia was behind cyber attacks against Democratic political groups before saying in a news conference on Wednesday that he thought Russia was behind the hacking.
The US intelligence community concluded in a report presented to President Barack Obama and Mr Trump last week that Russia tried to sway the outcome of the November 8 election by hacking and other means.
It did not make an assessment on whether they were successful.
Reuters/AP
Topics: us-elections, world-politics, government-and-politics, security-intelligence, defence-and-national-security, united-states
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