Ex-CIA director rips Trump for ‘amazing’ ignorance of how the world has transformed

Former CIA Director John Brennan ripped President Trump for blaming past leadership for U.S. manufacturing losses, saying Trump shows “an amazing albeit unsurprising ignorance” for how different industries have changed the world.

“You show an amazing albeit unsurprising ignorance of how technology, automation, and the attendant evolution of economics and societies have transformed the world,” Brennan tweeted at Trump on Wednesday.

“Your simple minded policies — imposition of tariffs — have the potential to seriously damage our future prosperity,” he continued. 

You show an amazing albeit unsurprising ignorance of how technology, automation, and the attendant evolution of economics and societies have transformed the world. Your simple minded policies–imposition of tariffs–have the potential to seriously damage our future prosperity. https://t.co/pjhSKcmSdV

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) March 7, 2018

Trump had blamed “bad policies & leadership” in a tweet earlier Wednesday for the U.S. losing manufacturing jobs over the past few decades.

{mosads}

“From Bush 1 to present, our Country has lost more than 55,000 factories, 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs and accumulated Trade Deficits of more than 12 Trillion Dollars,” Trump tweeted.

“Last year we had a Trade Deficit of almost 800 Billion Dollars. Bad Policies & Leadership,” he added. 

From Bush 1 to present, our Country has lost more than 55,000 factories, 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs and accumulated Trade Deficits of more than 12 Trillion Dollars. Last year we had a Trade Deficit of almost 800 Billion Dollars. Bad Policies & Leadership. Must WIN again! #MAGA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2018

Trump announced last week that he would be imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a move that was met with warnings of an impending global trade war and strong opposition from members of his own party. 

Trump’s top economic adviser Gary Cohn announced Tuesday that he was resigning from the White House after he strongly opposed Trump’s tariffs decision.

The European Commission has drawn up a list of U.S. products that could be subject to tariffs in response to Trump’s tariffs.

The Guardian reported Wednesday that the list includes certain types of bourbon, peanut butter, cranberries and orange juice.