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| Retired general launches remarkable attack on Donald Trump: 'I have wasted 40 years of my life' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Donald Trump's attacks on broadcaster CNN are an "an outrageous assault" on freedom of speech, according to former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Michael Hayden. | Donald Trump's attacks on broadcaster CNN are an "an outrageous assault" on freedom of speech, according to former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Michael Hayden. |
| “If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life,” the former spy chief, who now works as a national security analyst for the broadcaster, said in a Twitter post. | “If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life,” the former spy chief, who now works as a national security analyst for the broadcaster, said in a Twitter post. |
| General Hayden, who is also a former director of the National Surveillance Agency (NSA), added: "Until now it was not possible for me to conceive of an American President capable of such an outrageous assault on truth, a free press or the first amendment." | General Hayden, who is also a former director of the National Surveillance Agency (NSA), added: "Until now it was not possible for me to conceive of an American President capable of such an outrageous assault on truth, a free press or the first amendment." |
| Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised CNN and has accused it of spreading "fake news", a claim the network has denied. | Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised CNN and has accused it of spreading "fake news", a claim the network has denied. |
| On the other hand, the US leader regularly praised Fox News and has appeared on the channel a number of times. | On the other hand, the US leader regularly praised Fox News and has appeared on the channel a number of times. |
| "FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the US, CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly," the US President said in a twitter post over the weekend. | "FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the US, CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly," the US President said in a twitter post over the weekend. |
| "The outside world does not see the truth from them." | "The outside world does not see the truth from them." |
| In response, the broadcaster said it was not responsible for representing the US internationally. | In response, the broadcaster said it was not responsible for representing the US internationally. |
| "That's yours", it replied to the president. "Our job is to report the news." | "That's yours", it replied to the president. "Our job is to report the news." |
| It is not the first time General Hayden has criticised the President for attacking free speech. | It is not the first time General Hayden has criticised the President for attacking free speech. |
| Earlier this year, he condemned Mr Trump's comments about NFL players, who protested racism by kneeling during the national anthem. | Earlier this year, he condemned Mr Trump's comments about NFL players, who protested racism by kneeling during the national anthem. |
| Mr Trump had told a crowd at a rally: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag to say, `Get that son of a bitch off the field right now!" | Mr Trump had told a crowd at a rally: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag to say, `Get that son of a bitch off the field right now!" |
| Responding shortly after the President's remarks, General Hayden said: "As a 39-year military veteran, I think I know something about the flag, the anthem, patriotism, and I think I know why we fight. | Responding shortly after the President's remarks, General Hayden said: "As a 39-year military veteran, I think I know something about the flag, the anthem, patriotism, and I think I know why we fight. |
| "It’s not to allow the president to divide us by wrapping himself in the national banner." | "It’s not to allow the president to divide us by wrapping himself in the national banner." |
| Minutes after Mr Trump attacked CNN, former FBI director James Comey took to Twitter to defend the press, posting a quotation from a letter by former US President Thomas Jefferson. | Minutes after Mr Trump attacked CNN, former FBI director James Comey took to Twitter to defend the press, posting a quotation from a letter by former US President Thomas Jefferson. |
| Alongside a picture of the Capitol building, the home of the US Congress, he shared the words: "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." | Alongside a picture of the Capitol building, the home of the US Congress, he shared the words: "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." |