Former Director of National Intelligence Questions Trump’s Fitness to Be President After Phoenix Speech
‘I Really Question His Ability to Be – His Fitness to Be – in This Office’
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, after watching Donald Trump’s campaign re-election rally in Phoenix Tuesday night, now says he is concerned about the president’s fitness to be president.Â
“I really question his ability to be – his fitness to be – in this office, and I also am beginning to wonder about his motivation for it,” Clapper told CNN.Â
He also cited Trump’s “behavior and divisiveness and complete intellectual, moral and ethical void” as reasons for his concern. Â
James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, says he questions President Trump’s fitness for office https://t.co/IRRXg7paZM
— CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2017
Comparing Trump’s speech on Afghanistan Monday night, highly-scripted and read from teleprompters, to his unhinged, free-association, free-wheeling diatribe Tuesday night, Clapper says the “real Trump” is who America saw Tuesday night.
“I think the real Trump came through.”
Clapper also says it’s “downright scary and disturbing” that Trump has access to the nuclear launch codes. He notes there’s “very little to stop him,” which is “pretty damn scary.”
During his Tuesday night campaign rally Trump lied about his Charlottesville remarks, all but promised to pardon “Sheriff” Joe Arpaio, and told supporters the left wants to take away their “heritage,” which is a dog whistle to white supremacists.
For almost his entire adult life Clapper has served the United States of America. His military career began in 1963. He has served every president, Democratic and Republican, from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. He’s been the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, and most recently, until last year when he retired, the Director of National Intelligence.
Some responses via Twitter:
CNN National Security Analyst:
What Clapper said about Trump is what nervous intelligence officers say about leaders of rogue states. In their daily briefings to POTUS.
— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) August 23, 2017
Harvard Law School professor of constitutional law:
I’m convinced by Clapper’s conclusion that Trump can’t safely retain access to the nuclear codes. He is not a safe custodian of our survival https://t.co/YNwHDm0SvC
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) August 23, 2017
Washington Post columnist:
James Clapper,lifelong, level-headed, dedicated public servant, publicly & clearly pained. to say so, questioning Trump’s fitness to serve
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 23, 2017
Diretor of The Aspen Institute’s Cybersecurity & Technology Program:
To anyone who knows Clapper’s sober 50-plus-year career in military and intel, seeing him this blunt and upset is terrifying: https://t.co/xxPRU4MlFF
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) August 23, 2017
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.Â

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |