Clapper, who served under Barack Obama and resigned in 2016, made the claims in a new CIA-sanctioned book, Getting to Know the President, which chronicles the relationships between US presidents and the intelligence community (IC) since 1952
* Clapper said Trump was prone to 'fly off on tangents' during briefings
* Ex-Director of Intelligence worked with Trump during the transition period
* He said hour-long meetings may contain just 'eight minutes of real intelligence'
* Clapper said Trump 'was fact-free — evidence doesn't cut it with him'
Donald Trump was 'fact free' during intelligence briefings and prone to 'fly off on tangents,' according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Clapper, who served under Barack Obama and briefly under Trump during the transition, made the claims in a new CIA-sanctioned history, Getting to Know the President, written by retired spy John L. Helgerson.
Clapper noted that he found the president 'could be courteous, affable and complimentary of the IC [intelligence community]' but claims he was loose on substance.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I remember the leaked criticisms to the press that President Trump was difficult to be briefed when it came to intelligence reports. This blog covered it extensively.
The number one reason why they had a problem was that the former President was always questioning their intelligence and analysis. IMHO that is a good thing, and what all leaders should do. But a position that the former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper clearly did not appreciate, nor this CIA analysis/book.
Update: The CIA book "Getting to Know the President" and the chapter on President Trump can be read here .... Getting To Know The President: Chapter 9: Donald J. Trump—a unique challenge by John L. Helgerson (CIA).
CIA Book Says The US Intelligence Community 'Struggled' To Brief President Trump In 2016
US intelligence community 'struggled' to brief Trump in 2016, CIA review shows -- The Hill
It's no secret: A CIA book looks at fraught relations with Trump -- NPR
US intelligence community 'struggled' to brief Trump, CIA study says -- CNN
Trump was unprepared for the 2016 transition because his team didn't think they'd win the election, CIA-published book says -- Business Insider
Trump’s ‘fact-free’ approach caused briefing challenges, CIA report says -- The Guardian
Trump's 'Fact-Free' Approach Posed Great Challenge to Presidential Intel Briefings, CIA Says -- Sputnik
Trump didn’t receive an intelligence briefing after 6 January, book claims -- The Independent