Clapper: Killing of Saudi journalist displays that Trump will 'accept the words of autocrats'
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Monday said that President Trump's response to the killing of a Saudi journalist shows his willingness to "accept the words of autocrats."
“It does concern me that apparently [Trump] is willing to accept the words of autocrats like [Russian president Vladimir] Putin and now [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammad bin Salman over what his own intelligence community says," Clapper said on CNN.
Clapper's comments came as Trump faces growing scrutiny over how his administration has responded to the killing of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi.
The Washington Post reported last week that the CIA has concluded that bin Salman ordered the assassination of Khashoggi. The journalist was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2.
But Trump on Saturday said that the CIA's assessment was "premature" and that it remained "too early" to make a conclusion.
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/417501-clapper-killing-of-saudi-journalist-displays-that-trump-will
