Former CIA Director John Brennan ripped President Trump on Thursday for a tweet blaming the media for anger in society, saying that Trump should “look in the mirror.”
Brennan, a frequent Trump critic who was the intended target of the pipe bomb delivered to CNN’s offices on Wednesday, said that the president’s rhetoric was “disgraceful.”
“Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful.”
Brennan also stressed that Trump’s critics “will not be intimidated into silence.”
Trump said in a tweet earlier Thursday that “a big part” of the anger in society today is caused by “purposely false and inaccurate reporting” from mainstream media.
“It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!” he said.
{mosads}The president’s tweet came just one day after explosive devices were mailed to several prominent Democrats and CNN, which the president has labeled as “fake news.”
Packages were intercepted before reaching the residences of former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and former Attorney General Eric Holder were also targeted, although the package meant for Holder was sent back to the listed return address, the Florida office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D).
Brennan joins Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) in highlighting Trump’s rhetoric in a heated political environment.
“Time and time again, the President has condoned physical violence and divided Americans with his words and his actions,” the congressional leaders wrote in a statement Wednesday.
“President Trump’s words ring hollow until he reverses his statements that condone acts of violence.”