WASHINGTON – Gathering his Cabinet at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump was happy to discuss a new sanctions threat on Turkey, the opioid epidemic and new trade talks with China.

He was less inclined to talk about Omarosa Manigault Newman and John Brennan.

Trump ignored reporters' questions about Manigault Newman, the former aide whose new book says the president is a racist in mental decline, and Brennan, the former CIA director who accused the president of colluding with the Russians during the 2016 election.

During the Cabinet meeting that lasted more than an hour, Trump also praised the late singer Aretha Franklin, suggested a lawsuit against certain drug companies, heard a report on efforts to denuclearize North Korea – and also took shots at the media.

“If you’d like, you can stay," he told reporters at one point. "If you’d like, you can leave ... Freedom of the press.”
• Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said there would be new economic sanctions on Turkey if the government did not release American pastor Andrew Brunson.

"We have put sanctions on several of their cabinet members," Mnuchin told colleagues. "We have more that we are planning to do if they don't release him quickly."

While Turkey has accused Brunson of involvement in a coup attempt, Trump said that "he's a very innocent man.”

More: Turkey places heavy tariffs on U.S. goods in escalating trade spat with Washington
• The president asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to bring a federal lawsuit against certain drug companies he says are contributing to the opioid crisis. He also asked Sessions to look into opioids being shipped into the United States by countries like China and Mexico, saying they are “sending their garbage and killing our people ... It’s almost a form of warfare."

More: President Trump threatens to sue opioid makers, says crisis is 'warfare'
• Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that while North Korea has not conducted nuclear missile tests in months, China may be encouraging Kim Jong Un's government to resist denuclearization negotiations.

"I think it’s been hurt a little by China," Pompeo said.

Nevertheless, Pompeo said negotiations are continuing "about a path forward to a brighter future for the North Koreans."
• Talks about ongoing tariff threats have been renewed between the United State and China.

While talking up the U.S. economy, economic adviser Larry Kudlow said China is struggling, and "their economy is just heading South.”

Trump also heard a report on efforts to modify the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

More: U.S., China to resume talks, raising hopes of breakthrough in escalating trade war

More: U.S.-Mexico are close to reaching a deal in NAFTA talks, but Canada is still a wild card

While declining reporters' questions, Trump has used other forums to respond to Manigault Newman and Brennan.

On Twitter, Trump described the former aide known as Omarosa as a "lowlife" and a "dog." He said she is lying about allegations that include the claim that the president has used the "n" word to describe African-Americans.

As for Brennan, Trump announced Wednesday he had revoked the former CIA director's security clearance because of what he called irresponsible statements about the president and Russia.

More: John Brennan: Donald Trump's denial of Russian collusion is 'hogwash'

In a New York Times op-ed on Thursday, Brennan said Trump is trying to silence his statements about Trump's cooperation with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, currently the subject of a special counsel investigation.

"Mr. Trump’s claims of no collusion are, in a word, hogwash," Brennan wrote.</s>Image copyright Reuters Image caption John Brennan stepped down as CIA director in January 2017

Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of ex-CIA chief John Brennan, denying the US president's critic any access to sensitive information.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced the decision by reading a statement from Mr Trump.

The statement cited Mr Brennan's "erratic conduct and behaviour".

In response, Mr Brennan tweeted that the move was part of President Trump's broader effort to "suppress freedom of speech and punish critics".

"It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out.

"My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent."

Mr Brennan earlier said Mr Trump's performance at a briefing after July's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki had been "nothing short of treasonous".

And last year, Mr Brennan said an investigation into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russia during the US presidential elections in 2016 had been "well-founded".

President Trump has repeatedly denied the claim, calling it "witch hunt".

Later on Wednesday in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump said he would have revoked Mr Brennan's clearance last week but it was "too hectic".

What did Trump's statement say exactly?

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sarah Sanders read President Trump's statement which cited John Brennan's "erratic conduct and behaviour"

"As the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it.

"I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption President Trump is reviewing access to classified information for several other former high-ranking US officials

"Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors, regarding matters about which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy.

"Neither of these justifications supports Mr Brennan's continued access to classified information."

The statement added that Mr Trump was also reviewing access to classified information for former FBI chief James Comey, whom he fired last year, former director of national intelligence James Clapper, former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden and former attorney general Sally Yates, among others.

What have they said?

James Comey called the president "morally unfit" to lead. His memoir, A Higher Loyalty, likened Mr Trump to a mob boss.

In response to Mr Brennan losing his clearance, Mr Comey said in a statement: "Once again this president is sending a message that he will punish people who disagree with him and reward those who praise him."

He added that "security clearances should not be used as pawns in a petty political game to distract voters from even bigger problems".

Mr Comey also said the president "lies to the American people every day, encourages racism, is a misogynist, and always puts his own interests" first.

James Clapper said the Watergate scandal "pales in comparison" to the Russia collusion inquiry dogging the Trump presidency.

In a naked jab at the Trump administration, Michael Hayden tweeted a photo in June of a Nazi death camp with the caption: "Other governments have separated mothers and children."

Concerted effort to change the subject

Analysis by BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel

John Brennan has been an outspoken critic of the president.

He called Donald Trump treasonous over his meeting with the Russian leader in Helsinki; he's called him imbecilic; and a danger to the US.

Now Donald Trump has had his revenge, revoking the former CIA chief's security clearance - and threatening a number of other national intelligence officials - all of whom have one thing in common: they've also been critical of the president.

But in justifying this move there's been no suggestion that Mr Brennan either leaked classified material or sought to make money from it.

Instead the White House statement spoke of Mr Brennan's "erratic behaviour", "wild outbursts" and "frenzied commentary".

The decision by the president was apparently taken without consulting his director of national intelligence, Dan Coats.

And the move has brought criticism.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry said the president was behaving like the ruler of a banana republic. Others have said Mr Trump is trying to shut up critics.

The timing is also noteworthy. The White House has been buffeted for days by claims from a disaffected former adviser to the president.

Closing arguments in the trial of Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, are also being heard.

The White House briefing where this was announced hadn't been scheduled. It looks like a concerted effort to change the subject.</s>(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 23, 2017, former CIA Director John Brennan testifies during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing about Russian actions during the 2016 election on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 revoked security clearance for former CIA Director John Brennan. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: Trump rev ORIG FILE ID: AFP_18E1DM

WASHINGTON – Striking at one of his fiercest critics over Russia, President Trump said Wednesday he has revoked the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, and continues to review the clearances of other Barack Obama administration officials.

Brennan has used his status "to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations" and "wild outbursts on the Internet and television about this administration," Trump said in a statement read by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

As critics accused Trump of seeking to silence opponents, the president added names to his list of other Obama-era officials whose security clearances are under review: FBI and Justice Department officials involved in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Brennan, like many of his supporters, called the decision part of a broader effort by Trump to "suppress freedom of speech" and "punish critics."

"It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out," Brennan tweeted. "My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent."

Some of Brennan's supporters called it nothing less than the compilation of a Trump blacklist.

"This has zero to do with national security," tweeted Michael Bromwich, an attorney for former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, whose security clearance is one of those under review. "This is an Official Enemies List. The offense: exercising 1st Amendment rights."

More: President Trump considers revoking security clearances for former U.S. officials

More: Security clearances: Yes, President Trump can yank them, and other things to know

Clapper, in an interview on CNN, said he would continue to speak out even if he loses his security clearance.

If the rule is "the only way I can speak is to be in an adulation mode of this president, I'm sorry, I don't think I could sign up for that," Clapper told CNN.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called it "a stunning abuse of power" and an attempt to distract from Trump's many scandals. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump again demonstrated "how deeply insecure and vindictive he is – two character flaws dangerous in any President."

The Brennan decision came quickly, less than a month after Trump announced the review on July 23.

Maybe less: The written version of Trump's order was dated July 26.

Brennan has been among Trump's most acerbic critics.

After Trump's July 16 news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin – one in which Trump appeared to accept Putin's denials of election interference over the conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community – Brennan described the U.S. president's performance as "nothing short of treasonous."

In an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC, Brennan called Trump "dangerous to our nation."

Trump announced last month he was reviewing the security clearances of a number of ex-Obama officials, including Brennan as well as former FBI director director James Comey, Clapper, former CIA director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and McCabe.

In making his announcement about Brennan, Trump added two new names to the list, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.

Strzok is the FBI official fired last week in part because of anti-Trump text messages he sent to Page.

Also on the list: Current Justice Department official Bruce Ohr. Supporters of Trump said Ohr was in contact with retired British spy Christopher Steele, who compiled a dossier alleging a relationship between Trump and Russians involved in election interference.

Russian efforts to favor Trump by hacking the emails of Democratic officials and pushing fake news about presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are currently under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump has denounced the Mueller investigation as a "hoax" concocted by Democrats upset at their election loss.

Security clearances for ex-government employees are not that unusual, and those who have them do not always exercise them.

Former leaders of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to maintain access to classified information, both as a professional courtesy and so that they can consult with successors on certain national security issues.

"Neither of these justifications supports Mr. Brennan's continued access to classified information," Sanders said in reading Trump's statement.

Any benefit of consultations with Brennan is "outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior," the Trump statement said, and that behavior "has tested and far exceeded the limits of any professional courtesy that may have been due to him."

More: Ex-CIA chief John Brennan to Trump: 'America will triumph over you'</s>White House: Trump is revoking security clearance of former Obama administration CIA director John Brennan

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House: Trump is revoking security clearance of former Obama administration CIA director John Brennan.</s>On Wednesday, President Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, who served as director during the Obama administration. Brennan has been one of the most scathing public critics of the president.

Today President Trump took aim at one of his harshest critics. He revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan. Here is White House press secretary Sarah Sanders reading from the president's statement.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Mr. Brennan has recently leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive information to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations, wild outbursts on the Internet and television about this administration.

KELLY: Well, here to talk about this move is NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre. Hey, Greg.

KELLY: That reference to wild outbursts on the Internet - that's a reference to John Brennan's Twitter feed.

MYRE: Indeed it is. He's only tweeted 51 times, but they've been very harsh and almost all of them directed at the president, including one just yesterday that begins, it's astounding how often you fail to live up to the minimum standards of decency, civility and probity. So you get the taste very quickly. And after the announcement today that his security clearance had been revoked, he went on MSNBC to respond. And we'll hear a little bit of that now.

JOHN BRENNAN: I've seen this type of behavior and actions on the part of foreign tyrants and despots and autocrats for many, many years during my CIA and national security career. I never ever thought that I would see it here in the United States.

MYRE: So there are many other former intelligence officials who have criticized the president but not in such harsh, personal terms as Brennan has repeatedly done.

KELLY: Yeah. I know from interviewing John Brennan myself and asking him about this, and he says, look; I don't think President Trump is fit to be president, and I've got a moral responsibility to speak out. Let me ask you this 'cause this is something a lot of people may not know. The president does have the authority. Singlehandedly, he can revoke a security clearance. It's happened before.

MYRE: Yes, it has happened before but not under these circumstances - in fact very different circumstances. It's never been as part of a personal dispute or for criticizing the president. It's been for a cause. Perhaps the most famous example about 15 years ago was a former national security adviser, Sandy Berger - after he left office, went to the National Archives and smuggled out some documents. So in these rare cases where it's happened, it's been for abusing the security clearance, not as some sort of personal dispute or feud.

KELLY: Why do former officials keep security clearances? I mean, John Brennan isn't running the CIA anymore. Why does he need a security clearance?

MYRE: Well, he doesn't absolutely need it, but he certainly has valuable experience. I mean, when he was replaced right as Trump came into office and named a new CIA director, Mike Pompeo, someone who had no experience in the national security community, he may have wanted to talk to John Brennan and speak about classified information. And Brennan could say, hey, you should do this; this is something you need to look at.

KELLY: So he needs to be read in in order to provide counsel.

MYRE: Absolutely. And in fact, Pompeo, while he was CIA director, said he had been in touch with the former chiefs who had held that job previously. In the military, we see that all the time. People leave the military. They may work for a defense contractor, and the information they have and want to continue to share is valuable to them as a - for their own career.

KELLY: John Brennan is not the - he's the only one who President Trump has yanked the clearance from today. But President Trump says there may be others.

MYRE: Yes. In his note, he mentioned nine officials, eight former and one current. So he went out of his way to list them by name, including some people like James Comey, the former FBI director who actually lost his security clearance when he left the job.

KELLY: And just briefly, John Brennan - we said he's one of the most prominent people speaking out. He's not the only one, and former officials seem to be doing this more and more.

MYRE: Yeah, they really have. It's a trend that's been going on I think post-9/11, and it certainly accelerated under Trump. Now, a lot of the officials say, we need to have a voice in these serious ongoing matters. And they're also feeling hurt personally by what the president has attacked - done and by attacking the intelligence community.

KELLY: All right, that is national security correspondent Greg Myre. Thanks, Greg.</s>Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the decision at a White House briefing, reading a statement from Trump that accused Brennan of making "a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations - wild outbursts on the internet and television - about this administration."

Brennan, who led the CIA during most of President Barack Obama's second term, has emerged as one of Trump's fiercest critics, denouncing his performance at a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month as "treasonous." On Tuesday, Brennan lambasted Trump's personal character after he derided former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman as a "dog."

"Any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risk posed by his erratic conduct and behavior," Trump said in his statement. "Mr. Brennan has a history that calls into question his objectivity and credibility."

Trump added that he is reviewing the security clearances of nine other former officials, including former FBI director James Comey, all of whom have criticized the president or been targeted by congressional Republicans seeking to discredit the ongoing Russia probe.

The move sent shock waves through Washington's political class and the nation's intelligence community, which has traditionally sought to avoid public partisanship but has been dragged into the debate as Trump has accused the "deep state" of seeking to undermine his presidency through leaks of sensitive material.

The president also has lashed out repeatedly against the ongoing investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller III into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russian operatives accused of tampering in the 2016 presidential elections.

Brennan's former colleagues rallied to his defense, hailing his service to the nation, including a key role in the 2011 operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

In a tweet Wednesday, former vice president Joe Biden said Trump's decision was "unbecoming of a President" and praised Brennan as someone who "has never been afraid to speak up."

"If you think it will silence John, then you just don't know the man," he wrote.

Brennan reacted to the news by comparing Trump's actions to "foreign despots and autocrats."

"I never, ever thought I'd see it here in the United States," Brennan said on MSNBC. "I believe all Americans need to take stock of what is happening right now in our government - how abnormal and how irresponsible and how dangerous these actions are. If Mr. Trump believes this going to lead me to just go away and be quiet, he is very badly mistaken."

Sanders cast Trump's decision as the outcome of an ongoing review of former and current officials whose conduct has led the president to question their willingness to "protect classified information."

But since aides first raised the specter that Trump would strip Brennan and several others of their clearances, security experts have described such a move as unprecedented and warned that words and actions protected by the First Amendment aren't grounds to take a clearance away.

"As far as we know, this is the first time that a president of the United States has individually taken action against somebody's security clearance," said Mark Zaid, an attorney who represents government employees in security-clearance disputes.

Last month, the White House said that along with Brennan and Comey, the president was scrutinizing former CIA director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan E. Rice, former director of national intelligence James Clapper Jr. and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

On Wednesday, Sanders expanded that list to include former acting attorney general Sally Yates, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, former FBI agent Peter Strzok and Justice Department official Bruce Ohr, who was recently demoted.
• White House says Trump wants to revoke security clearances for former intelligence officials critical of him over Russia

Yates was fired by Trump last year after she defied the president and ordered federal attorneys not to defend his controversial travel ban. Strzok and Page, two of Trump's favorite targets on Twitter, became the centerpiece of Republicans' efforts to discredit Mueller's Russia probe after anti-Trump texts between the two were revealed last year. Strzok was fired over the texts this week.

Ohr is also the frequent object of GOP criticism; he was named by Republicans in a memo earlier this year that targeted his ties to the former British intelligence officer who wrote the controversial dossier on the Trump campaign's alleged contacts with Russian officials.

The timing of the announcement suggested the president may also have been trying to distract public attention from saturation media coverage of Manigault Newman's accusations in a new book that Trump made racist statements before he took office that were captured on tape.

After Sanders' briefing Wednesday, the White House released the written statement from Trump dated July 26 - before quickly releasing an identical statement with the date removed. That led some of Trump's critics to conclude he had made the decision on Brennan's security clearance weeks ago, but that the White House strategically delayed an announcement for maximum political benefit.

"This might be a convenient way to distract attention, say from a damaging news story or two," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said on Twitter. "But politicizing the way we guard our nation's secrets just to punish the President's critics is a dangerous precedent."

Some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., applauded Trump's move. In a statement, Paul sought to take credit for the idea of revoking Brennan's clearance.

"I urged the President to do this," Paul said. "I filibustered Brennan's nomination to head the CIA in 2013, and his behavior in government and out of it demonstrate why he should not be allowed near classified information."

Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian, called Trump's action unprecedented, saying he knew of no such historical example of a president trying to "dehumanize and embarrass an outstanding intelligence officer like John Brennan. There has always been a bipartisan spirit of support since the CIA was created in the Cold War."

Brinkley suggested the closest antecedent was President Richard Nixon's attempts to use the Internal Revenue Service to harass rivals on his "enemies list" and former senator Joseph McCarthy's congressional hearings to try to identify and punish suspected communists inside the U.S. government in the 1950s.

"The public outcry of Brennan being stripped will echo long and far in the annals of American history," Brinkley said. "It will be seen like McCarthyism - a dark stain on our democracy."

Nearly 4.1 million Americans have federal government security clearances of varying levels up to "top secret," according to government estimates. In some cases, former officials retain their clearances and are called on to provide advice or input on classified or highly sensitive matters, experts said. Some former officials also have jobs that require a security clearance.

It's not clear how much of an impact Trump will have if he seeks to strip others of their clearances. Comey and McCabe have said their security badges were automatically demagnetized after they were fired.

But the action was the latest in a long battle between Trump and top members of the intelligence and national security communities. During the 2016 campaign, a bipartisan group of national security experts, including Hayden, signed on to a pair of "Never Trump" letters, asserting that he "lacks self-control and acts impetuously," has demonstrated "erratic behavior" and is "fundamentally dishonest."

Since taking office, Trump has faced criticism that he has been reckless in his own handling of sensitive information, including disclosing highly classified material during an Oval Office meeting last year with the Russian foreign minister. And at his Florida retreat, Mar-a-Lago, Trump appeared to discuss the U.S. response to a North Korean missile launch in full view of patrons.

Questions also have been raised about Trump's staff, including son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had his security clearance downgraded in February before being granted a permanent clearance in May. Former White House staff secretary Rob Porter was granted clearance despite allegations that he had been violent toward two of his ex-wives, charges he has denied.

"This is not merely erratic - it's somewhat dangerous, using clearances to get at political opponents," Eliot Cohen, a former State Department counselor during the George W. Bush administration who organized one of the "Never Trump" letters, said of president's decision on Brennan.

Rep. Adam Schiff, Calif., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump's move demonstrates "how deeply insecure and vindictive he is - two character flaws dangerous in any President."

"An enemies list is ugly, undemocratic and un-American. I also believe this action to silence a critic is unlawful," Schiff said in a tweet.

Republicans were more muted. Last month, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., had minimized Trump's threats, suggesting the president was merely "trolling people." Ryan's office declined to comment Wednesday.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who has said he won't seek reelection after tangling with Trump on foreign policy issues, called it a "banana republic kind of step."

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Brennan has been "far too political" in his commentary about Trump. But she added that recently retired intelligence officials generally have worthwhile expertise to offer and called Trump's move "unwise."

This article was written by David Nakamura and Felicia Sonmez, reporters for The Washington Post. Mike DeBonis and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report.</s>In an unprecedented use of authority, president Donald Trump revoked former CIA director John Brennan’s security clearance. Brennan has been one of Trump’s most prominent critics.

“I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information, including by controlling access to it. Today, in fulfilling that responsibility, I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency,” Trump said in a statement pronounced in the White House briefing room by his press secretary Sarah Sanders. “Mr. Brennan’s lying and recent conduct characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation’s most closely held secrets.”

Brennan is the first Trump target since the White House announced last month that the president was considering taking action against his most vocal critics in terms of national security.

Brennan responded via Twitter, by saying: “This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principales are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent,” the security expert tweeted.

Brennan is well-regarded and respected by both Democrats and Republicans. He served as homeland security advisor and later CIA director under President Barack Obama.</s>The White House announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump has revoked former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance.

In a statement read by White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, Trump said, “As the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief, I have the unique, constitutional responsibility to protect the nation’s classified information, including by controlling access to it.”

“Today, in fulfilling that responsibility, I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.”

The president went on to explain certain high-ranking previous officials retain their security clearance after leaving office so current officials can consult with them on matters where they might have special insight, and as a professional courtesy.

“Neither of these justifications supports Mr. Brennan’s continued access to classified information,” Trump declared.

TRENDING: Bill O’Reilly Takes Strong Stance on NFL Anthem Controversy: ‘Don’t Like it, Go to Canada’

“First, at this point in my administration, any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior,” he said.

“Second, the conduct and behavior far exceeded the limits of any professional courtesy that may have been due him.”

In a Twitter post last month, Brennan — who served as CIA director under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017 — labeled Trump’s performance during a joint news conference in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “treasonous,” adding it rose to the level of “high crimes & misdemeanors.”

In other words, the Obama administration CIA director was saying Trump should be impeached.

In the full statment, available here via Fox News, Trump also cited times when Brennan publicly lied about the activities of the country’s main intelligence service.

“Mr. Brennan has a history that calls in to question his objectivity and credibility. In 2014, for example, he denied to Congress that CIA officials under his supervision had improperly accessed the computer files of congressional staffers. He told the Council on Foreign Relations that the CIA would never do such a thing. The CIA’s Inspector General however contradicted Mr. Brennan directly, concluding unequivocally that agency officials had indeed improperly accessed congressional staffers files. More recently, Mr. Brennan told Congress that the intelligence community did not make use of the so-called Steele dossier in an assessment regarding the 2016 election, an assertion contradicted by at least two other senior officials in the intelligence community, and all of the facts.

“Additionally, Mr. Brennan has recently leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive information to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations – wild outbursts on the internet and television – about this Administration. Mr. Brennan’s lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the Nation’s most closely held secrets and facilitates the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos.

Brennan — who was hired by MSNBC/NBC News in February as a military and intelligence analyst — also attacked the president on air, including calling for members of his national security team to step down.

“I cannot understand how the national security team can continue to abide by this and how Mike Pompeo and Bolton and John Kelly can continue in their jobs,” he said.

Brennan took shots at Trump this week via Twitter.

“It’s astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity,” he wrote on Tuesday

“Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent, & honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our Nation.”

Brennan’s sentiments were in response to Trump tweeting he was glad that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly fired former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman.

Last month, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul urged Trump to pull Brennan’s security clearance, arguing that the Obama administration official is monetizing his status.

In a speech from the Senate floor, Paul said, “My goodness, we now have the former head of the CIA, John Brennan, galavanting across TV, now being paid for his opinion, to call the president treasonous.”

“This is crazy partisanship that is driving this.”

In addition to Brennan, according to The Hill, Sanders announced that Trump is reviewing security clearances for former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Administration Director Michael Hayden, and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, among others.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.</s>Transcript for Trump revokes security clearance of former CIA Dir. Brennan, mulling others

I'd like to begin by reading a statement from the president. It is ahead of the executive branch and commander in chief. I be unique constitutional responsibility. To protect the nation's classified information. Including by controlling access to. Today in fulfilling that responsibility. I decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan former director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Historically former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information. After their government service so that they can consult with their successors regarding matters. About which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy. Neither of these justification supports mr. Brennan's continued access to classified information. First at this point my administration. Any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behavior. Second that conduct and behavior has tested and far exceeded the limits any professional courtesy that may have been due to him. Mr. Brennan has a history that calls into question his objectivity and credibility. And 2014 for example he denied to congress that CIA officials under his supervision. Had improperly accessed the computer files congressional staffers. He told the council foreign relations at the CIA would never gave such a thing. The CIA's inspector general however contradicted mr. Brennan directly. Concluding unequivocally that agency officials had indeed improperly accessed congressional staffers files. More recently mr. Brennan told congress that the intelligence community did not make use of the so called steel dossier. In an assessment regarding the 2016 election. An assertion contradicted by at least two other senior officials in the intelligence community and all of the facts. Additionally mr. Brennan has recently leveraged his status as a former high ranking official with access to highly sensitive information. To make a series of unfounded an outrageous allegations wild outburst on the Internet and television about this administration. Mr. Brennan's line in recent conduct characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary is wholly inconsistent. With access in the nation's most closely held secrets and facilities the very name of our adversaries which is to sow division and chaos. More broadly the issue of mr. Brennan security clearance raises larger questions. About the practice of former officials maintaining access to our nation's most sensitive secrets. Long after their time in government has ended. Such access is particularly inappropriate when former officials have transitioned into highly partisan positions. And seek to use real or perceived access to sensitive information to validate their political attacks. Any access granted to our nation's secrets should be in furtherance of national not personal interest. For this reason I also begun to review the more general question of the access to classified information by government officials. As part of this review I'm evaluating action with respect to the following individuals. James clapper James coney Michael Hayden Sally Yates Susan Rice Andrew McKay. Peter struck Lisa page and Bruce or. Security clearances for those who still have them may be revoked and those who have already lost their security clearance may not be able to have it reinstated. It is for the foregoing reasons that I've exercise my constitutional authority to deny mr. Brennan access. To classified information. Allen director appropriate staff at the National Security Council to make the necessary arrangements with the appropriate agencies to implement this determination.</s>WASHINGTON – President Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, a Barack Obama appointee who has criticized Trump over the Russia investigation.

Trump also said he continues to review the security clearances of other Obama-era officials, a list to which he has added the names of former FBI officials who were involved in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

In a written statement read by press secretary Sarah Sanders on Wednesday, Trump said Brennan has engaged in "erratic" behavior and lodged unfair allegations; Brennan and his supporters said Trump's security review was politically motivated and designed to target his freedom of speech.

"Any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Mr. Brennan are now outweighed by the risk posed by his erratic conduct and behavior," Sanders said.

Critics of the president called the security review nothing less than the compilation of a Trump blacklist.

"This has zero to do with national security," tweeted Michael Bromwich, an attorney for former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, whose security clearance is one of those under review. "This is an Official Enemies List. The offense: exercising 1st Amendment rights."

More: President Trump considers revoking security clearances for former U.S. officials

Trump announced last month he was reviewing the security clearances of a number of ex-Obama officials, including former FBI director director James Comey, former national intelligence director James Clapper, former CIA director Michael Hayden, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe.

In making his announcement about Brennan, Trump added two new names to the list, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.

Strzok is the FBI official fired last week in part because of anti-Trump text messages he sent to Page.
Amid controversy, the Trump Administration of the United States revokes the security clearance of former CIA chief John Brennan.