Donald Trump gave a speech at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, but instead of admitting the feud between himself and the intelligence communities, he pretended that he was behind them one million percent, and blamed the media.
Watch below the entire speech at about 15 minutes long:
More from Reuters:
U.S. President Donald Trump sought to mend fences with the CIA on Saturday, telling officers he had their back after he criticized spy agencies for their investigation into Russian hacking.
In his first official visit to a government agency as president, Trump – who had said U.S. intelligence tactics were reminiscent of Nazi Germany – sought to leave no doubt with officers that he supported their work.
“Very, very few people could do the job you people do and I want you to know I am so behind you,” Trump said, to cheers and loud applause.
Ahead of the speech, some analysts said it would take more than a quick visit for Trump, who engaged in an unprecedented feud with the Central Intelligence agency and other U.S. intelligence agencies before his inauguration, to patch up relations with a community he denigrated.
There was a lot of laughter and applause as he gave his speech. Trump claimed that a majority of the people at the CIA probably voted for him because they’re on “the same wavelength.”
Here’s some twitter response to the speech:
Based on rapturous reception Trump just got at CIA, seems a mistake to say entire "intel community" against Trump. Just the leakers at top.
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) January 21, 2017
Reminder Trump is at the CIA right now:
He's explaining how big the crowds were at his Inaugural & claiming the media lied about attendance.— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 21, 2017
CIA crowd just applauded when Trump said 'As you know I’m in a war with the media.'
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 21, 2017
Dear God, Trump just flippantly told CIA employees that we might invade Iraq again and take all the oil fields.
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) January 21, 2017
Don't miss this line from Trump's CIA speech. Iraqis certainly won't: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 21, 2017
House Intel Ranking Member @RepAdamSchiff on Trump's CIA speech: pic.twitter.com/LgSoQZEnJC
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 21, 2017
From reporters at Trump's CIA speech. He spoke to 300 agency staffers. pic.twitter.com/S0uaXVmb2P
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 21, 2017
Trump just spoke to CIA: said a "million or million and a half" were at his inauguration, and that "God stopped the rain" for his speech.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 21, 2017
More from CNN Prod per pool: "…the persons who are on the side…are the ones clapping and reacting. We do not know who these people are."
— Robert Gifford (@giff18) January 21, 2017
Pool: "Color from the CNN Producer: the persons who are directly in front of Trump have not shown any reaction…to his remarks."
— Robert Gifford (@giff18) January 21, 2017
Trump's 16-minute speech in a nutshell:
He is not in a running war with the CIA.
He is in a running war with the media.— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 21, 2017
Trump now using his first official remarks on his first full day in office in front of CIA memorial wall to complain about press coverage.
— David Chalian (@DavidChalian) January 21, 2017
So, are the CIA really with him or did he plant people on the sides to make it appear so? He’s done this before, so it’s not completely unlikely…