In an interview on Tuesday, former CIA official Philip Mudd gave a very direct and unflattering assessment of President-elect Donald Trump’s choices and lack of real action during the transition period. He reserved his harshest words for Trump’s pick of General Michael Flynn for national security advisor:
“I’m watching a clown show.”
Mudd explained that from his standpoint as a former intelligence officer, Flynn’s behavior during the campaign was very disturbing. He cited some of Flynn’s most outrageous behavior, which included threats and racist policy:
“We transition now to a national security adviser — in a political realm — who argues that an opponent, on the stump, should be locked up in prison, who argues that a billion plus Muslims should be grouped together.”
And that’s not Mudd’s only problem with with the transition. He also takes issue with the fact that the Trump transition team also sought security clearance for Michael G. Flynn, the General’s son. Flynn Jr. has spent months using social media to spread conspiracy theories, including the infamous #pizzagate, which said that a pizzeria in Washington is a secret home of a Satanic pedophilia cult. Mudd was not impressed:
“Then we go on to argue that that individual’s son, who retweets fake news, should be given access to top secrets.”
Mudd lamented that of all the great and respected names that previously held the post of national security advisor, Trump chose someone willing to spout xenophobic rhetoric and make threats against innocent individuals. It is safe to say, then, he is not particularly pleased with the development of the Trump administration to this point. In fact, he said to interviewer Wolf Blitzer:
Former CIA official Phil Mudd goes off on Gen. Flynn: I'm watching a clown show! https://t.co/oQC1TEd2bi
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) December 6, 2016
Featured Image Via Brookings
