Ex-CIA director: Trump shows ‘qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats’

Former CIA Director John Brennan slammed President Trump in a tweet Thursday, saying the president shows “qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats.”

Brennan, a vocal critic of Trump, posted the comment shortly after joining Twitter on Thursday. He condemned Trump’s tough stance against critics of his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“Trump Admin threat to retaliate against nations that exercise sovereign right in UN to oppose US position on Jerusalem is beyond outrageous,” tweeted Brennan, who led the CIA under former President Obama.

“Shows @realDonaldTrump expects blind loyalty and subservience from everyone—qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats,” he added.

Trump Admin threat to retaliate against nations that exercise sovereign right in UN to oppose US position on Jerusalem is beyond outrageous. Shows @realDonaldTrump expects blind loyalty and subservience from everyone—qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats.

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) December 21, 2017

Trump had warned that the U.S. could withhold foreign aid to countries who voted Thursday at the United Nations to condemn the United States’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

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The Trump administration’s move earlier this month marked a break from decades of U.S. precedent, sparking backlash from American allies who believe the status of the city is still undecided.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan were among the 128 nations in the U.N. General Assembly who voted in favor of a resolution demanding the U.S. rescind its Jerusalem decision.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley also warned of the consequences of the vote, reminding member nations of the key U.S. role in the international body. 

“We will remember it when we are called upon once again to make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations,” Haley said. “And we will remember when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”

Brennan, who served in both the Bush and Obama administrations, has previously called Trump’s character and leadership style into question over the president’s refusal to acknowledge Russian interference in the 2016 election.