Trump held a bizarre speech at the CIA where he attacked the media, bragged about his inaugural attendance, and it sounded like the crowd was cheering wildly at him. Except the media is reporting that it wasn’t so much the CIA agents cheering, but people he brought with him. Now CNN is reporting that CIA officers are telling them they thought the speech was disrespectful.
Here’s their report – watch for the end where Tapper and Schiutto express their bewilderment:
After this, the Tapman went on a long Twitter tirade to explain why it could be considered disrespectful:
I want to say something about the CIA Memorial Wall, which many agents considered essentially hallowed ground. (Porter Goss & Pres Bush '05) pic.twitter.com/zJRPLdpV8E
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
2/There are plenty of debates one can have about US foreign policy and the role the CIA has played but I'm not going into that right now.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
3/Not all of the stars are anonymous. A book at the base of the wall details some of the Identities of the fallen Intel operatives
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
4/Such as Johnny Michael Spann, a former Marine who was the first American combat death in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/JJvder86kJ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
5/ the wall reads: IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
6/ another fallen operative: Richard Welch, assassinated in 1975 in Greece. pic.twitter.com/WxuAnUXgC2
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
7/ A private ceremony in 2014 added stars for Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, killed in the 2012 Benghazi attacks. pic.twitter.com/Sn6meMS13n
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
I think he’s pointing to the irony here of how conservatives used to be so exercised over Benghazi.
8/Here's what the Book of Honor looks like: pic.twitter.com/XTz9nP1Lim
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
9/ 1st CIA operative killed in the line of duty was Douglas Seymour Mackiernan, killed in Tibet in 1950. CIA didn't acknowledge until 2008
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
10/ 117 stars are on that wall. I believe 84 of them are named. I'm skeptical of some official accounts of deaths – lots of "plane crashes"
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
11/ These were all patriots who took risks and made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country. In secret. Working against USSR or al Qaeda.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
12/ so when and if you hear of CIA operatives who want that Memorial Wall respected, know that it's sincere.
-fin-— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 21, 2017
I know a lot of people think Tapper is just the same as the rest of the biased media, but I really do think he’s an honest reporter. He also has a huge respect for the military and law enforcement, so take that as you will…