Down The Middle News: Experts horrified as Trump hands top intelligence agency to ‘rude Twitter troll’

Following President Donald Trump’s choice to nominate U.S. Ambassador to Germany and far-right political loyalist Richard Grenell as performing Director of Nationwide Intelligence, specialists expressed their horror at one more erosion of federal establishments in favor of the president’s cult of persona:

This can be a nationwide shame. Grenell can be the least certified intelligence chief in US historical past. https://t.co/WliTv6DHTe

— Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) February 19, 2020

In Grenell, Trump will now have an unwavering loyalist overseeing the Intelligence Neighborhood. https://t.co/0m78mMypoH

— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) February 19, 2020

That might be a disastrous selection…so I assume Don will do it.https://t.co/AjelNk5OYU

— John Schindler (@20committee) February 19, 2020

Grenell as DNI? That is loopy, even by the requirements of this administration.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 19, 2020

Reminder: Jim Clapper spent 50 years in intelligence, headed two companies, and served because the Underneath Sec of intel on the Pentagon earlier than changing into DNI. Ric Grenell was … a notably impolite Twitter troll. https://t.co/ST1adUqJJR

— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) February 19, 2020

This could frighten you. Not simply brazen politicization of intelligence, but additionally somebody who’s completely incompetent in an essential safety position. The guardrails are gone. https://t.co/c9qHn2KlyM

— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) February 19, 2020

Republicans go tremendous mad at Obama for appointing @RonaldKlain to supervise the response to Ebola. I wager we hear nary a peep in regards to the Grenell information

— Sam Stein (@samstein) February 19, 2020

That is past harmful.

Grenell is a Trump cultist and Trump will use him to make sure that our intelligence officers act and Trump’s private and political finest pursuits, not America’s.

Worse, he can be “performing” DNI, so the Senate can have no say in him being put in. https://t.co/yKWDNzKuD0

— VoteVets (@votevets) February 19, 2020

Are you fucking kidding me? This can be a joke,vivid?! https://t.co/BshN8BFB59

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) February 19, 2020

Dan makes a key level. Not solely is Grenell horrible, not solely has he been a horrible diplomat…he has no intelligence expertise, no actual administration expertise, not solely shred of the expertise to do that important job. IC ought to stand up and protest. An insult to all of them. https://t.co/9FnbpuqEB9

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 19, 2020

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