Donald Trump ‘being played’ by Putin, former officials say
James Clapper and John Brennan say the president’s stance on Russia puts US in peril

Two former US intelligence chief have warned that Donald Trump is being “played” by Russian president Vladimir Putin, and that his dismissive attitude towards allegations of Russian interference in US elections poses “a peril” to the country.
Former director of national intelligence James Clapper and former CIA director John Brennan spoke up after Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he believed Putin’s assertion that Russia was not involved in meddling with the election.
“Every time he sees me, he says, ‘I didn’t do that.’ And I believe – I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it,” Trump said on Saturday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Brennan told CNN that by “not acknowledging to Putin: ‘We know that you’re responsible for this’,” Trump is “giving Putin a pass”.
“I think it demonstrates to Mr Putin that Donald Trump can be played by foreign leaders who are going to be appeal to his ego and try to play upon his insecurities, which is very, very worrisome from a national security standpoint,” he added.
Clapper said the threat posed by Russia was “manifest and obvious” and that “to try to paint it in any other way is, I think, astounding, and in fact, poses a peril to this country”.
Trump later tweeted criticism of “haters and fools”:
Yesterday Trump appeared to retreat from his earlier statement, saying: “As to whether I believe [Putin’s claim] or not, I am with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with the leadership.”
Even so, says The Independent, “the US President did not categorically say Russia was behind the meddling which could have contributed to his ultimate victory, though US intelligence officials have confirmed as much”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?
Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?
Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'
-
Qatar luxury jet gift clouds Trump trip to Mideast
speed read Qatar is said to be presenting Trump with a $400 million plane, which would be among the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the US government
-
The fertility crisis: can Trump make America breed again?
Talking Point The self-styled 'fertilisation president', has been soliciting ideas on how to get Americans to have more babies
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Trump, UK's Starmer outline first post-tariff deal
speed read President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer struck a 'historic' agreement to eliminate some of the former's imposed tariffs
-
'Art is one of humanity's great empathic mediums'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can Trump's team make the MAGA playbook work for Albania's elections?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The architects of the president's 2024 victory are looking east to extend their populist reach