Former intel chief Hayden slams Trump’s CNN tweet: I’ve wasted 40 years if this is what we are

Former CIA and National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden on Saturday night ripped President Trump for attacking CNN and praising Fox News, calling it “an outrageous assault” on the First Amendment.

“If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life,” tweeted Hayden, who directed intelligence under the last three presidents and is a regular contributor to The Hill’s opinion section.

If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life. Until now it was not possible for me to conceive of an American President capable of such an outrageous assault on truth, a free press or the first amendment.

— Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) November 25, 2017

Trump on Saturday took to Twitter to declare that Fox News “is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN,” adding that CNN represents the United States “poorly” to the world. 

{mosads}

The network shot back at Trump over his comments, tweeting that it’s his job to represent the U.S. to the world.

Trump has frequently gone after CNN since he began his candidacy for president. He has at various times dubbed it “fake news” or the “Clinton News Network.” 

Trump has also shown a preference for Fox News, giving the network more than a dozen interviews since taking office.