"The American intelligence community has never faced a
problem quite like President Trump — a commander in chief who is
suspected by a growing number of Republicans and Democrats of deferring to Russia’s views over the recommendations of his own intelligence agencies.
“There
are almost two governments now,” worries John McLaughlin, a former
acting CIA director. He discusses the Trump conundrum with the same
vexation as a dozen other former intelligence officials I’ve spoken with
since the president’s shockingly acquiescent performance onstage Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
How
are current intelligence chiefs handling this unprecedented situation?
They are operating carefully but correctly, trying to balance their
obligations to the president with the oaths they have sworn to protect
and defend the Constitution. The officials continue to serve the elected
president, but they are also signaling that they work for the American
people."
