23 August, 2017
Reacting to Trump's angry speech in Phoenix on Tuesday, Clapper said Trump's behavior had left him unnerved about the stability of a man who controls the world's most powerful arsenal of nuclear weapons.
The speech blew minds throughout the at-home audience, including Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who appeared with CNN's Don Lemon after the host called the rally "a total eclipse of the facts".
"You said you questioned his fitness".
The former national intelligence boss found the President's rally "downright scary and disturbing".
"Yes, I do", Clapper responded, adding that he also questions Trump's motivations. "Maybe he is looking for a way out".
Again, having some understanding of the levers that a president can exercise, I worry about, frankly, you know, the access to nuclear codes.
Clapper has since publicly said that the scandal that brought down President Nixon pales in comparison to the one involving Trump's connections with Russian Federation.
"How much longer does the country have to, to borrow a phrase, endure this nightmare?" he lamented. "It's interesting to contrast last night's teleprompter Trump performance versus tonight, which is of course, the "real" Trump, just as it was at the unglued impromptu press conference at Trump tower".
"In a fit of pique or if he decides to do something about Kim Jong-un, there's actually very little to stop him", Clapper said.
"The whole system is built to ensure rapid response if necessary".
