MSNBC Guest Claims U.S. Ignoring National Security Threats To Do Bolton Raid, Revoke Clearances
Crooked Media’s Shaniqua McClendon claimed without evidence Sunday that the United States is ignoring threats to National Security because President Donald Trump is using the entire government for “retribution” against critics like former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
McClendon joined host Alex Witt and former Democrat Congressman Carlos Curbelo on Sunday’s Alex Witt Reports to talk about several Trump topics, including Friday’s high profile raid on Bolton’s home.
After a lot of discussion across multiple segments about actions taken by Trump on a variety of fronts, Witt asked McClendon about the raid and the recent revocation of security credentials, mostly from former officials, overseen by Trump DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
“How far does this pattern of retribution go? And does it put U.S. Security potentially at risk?” Witt pointedly asked.
“Absolutely,” McClendon replied. “Donald Trump is willing to use every part of our government to go after the people who have dissented or disagreed or criticized him in any way.”
“All of this attention going on, you know, going after his enemies means that our national security and intelligence professionals are not focused on what they should be focused on,” she added. “And that doesn’t just put Democrats at risk. That puts our entire country at risk. It puts the president at risk.”
McClendon took the notion of focus a step further, saying without offering examples that, so engaged is the whole of government, real threats to American National Security are being ignored.
“It means we’re not paying attention to threats that might be incoming or looming both in the country and outside of the country,” she said.
Witt did not follow up to ask for any evidence that National Security has been harmed or diminished, nor for any particular details on what threats may have been ignored.
Earlier in the segment, the three discussed several other actions taken by the Trump administration, including on crime in Washington, D.C. and the potential deployment of the National Guard to cities like Chicago.
WITT: How far does this pattern of retribution go? And does it put U.S. Security potentially at risk?
MCCLENDON: Absolutely. I think he — Donald Trump is willing to use every part of our government to go after the people who have dissented or disagreed or criticized him in any way. And that includes, you know, what he has Tulsi Gabbard doing. I also think she is trying to make sure she gets back in and stays in Donald Trump’s good graces.
But all of this attention going on, you know, going after his enemies means that our national security and intelligence professionals are not focused on what they should be focused on. And that doesn’t just put Democrats at risk. That puts our entire country at risk. It puts the president at risk. All of the people that he’s deploying to take these actions. It means we’re not paying attention to threats that might be incoming or looming both in the country and outside of the country.
Watch the clip above via MSNBC.
