Former CIA director: Trump puts US national security at 'grave risk' with Charlottesville comments

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August 16, 2017 10:56 PM

Former CIA director John Brennan said Trump's comments on Charlottesville are "putting our national security and our collective futures at grave risk."

After a wild press conference where President Donald Trump again blamed the violence at a right wing rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on both right and left wing protesters, former CIA Director John Brennan sounded off to CNN.

In a letter addressed to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, Brennan condemned the "despicable words of Donald Trump."

"Mr. Trump's words, and the beliefs they reflect, are a national disgrace, and all Americans of conscience need to repudiate his ugly and dangerous comments," wrote Brennan.

Although Trump condemned the neo-Nazis and white supremacists present at the Charlottesville rally, one of whom allegedly murdered a woman, he ultimately equated them to what he described as the "alt-left" in a way that pleased and possibly emboldened the rally organizers.

According to Brennan, if the US continues down the "senseless path" outlined by Trump, America's society and standing in the world will suffer "lasting harm."

"By his words and his actions, Mr. Trump is putting our national security and our collective futures at grave risk," concludes Brennan.

Read the full letter here.

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