Trump assures CIA officials: ‘I am so behind you’
President denies criticizing agencies
LANGLEY, Va. — President Donald Trump moved to mend his tumultuous relationship with America’s spy agencies Saturday, traveling to CIA headquarters on his first full day in office and assuring officials, “I am so behind you.”
But the president quickly shifted from praise for the CIA to criticism of media coverage of Inauguration Day in an unscripted address that overstated the size of the crowd on the National Mall as he took the oath of office. Trump said throngs “went all the way back to the Washington monument,” despite photos and live video showing the crowd stopping well short of the landmark.
The president’s media criticism came as he stood in front of a memorial honoring CIA officers killed while serving the United States.
Trump’s decision to visit CIA headquarters was a public gesture to the intelligence officials he disparaged during the transition. He had repeatedly challenged the agencies’ assessment that Russia meddled in the presidential race to help him win and suggested intelligence officials were behind the leak of an unverified dossier that claimed Russia had compromising financial or personal information about him.
During remarks to about 400 CIA officials, Trump denied that he had a feud with the intelligence community. He again blamed the media for creating that impression, despite the fact that he made numerous public statements critical of intelligence officials.
“There is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and CIA than Donald Trump,” he said.
News reports have stated that the CIA and other federal agencies are investigating Russian interference in the presidential election on behalf of Trump. The New York Times, citing anonymous officials, said agencies were examining intercepted communications and financial transactions between Russian officials and Trump’s associates. FBI Director James Comey has declined to confirm or describe the nature of the government’s investigation.
Saturday marked the end of inaugural celebrations, with Trump and his family attending a national prayer service traditionally held for the new president. The president and his wife, Melania, and Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, sat in a front pew at Washington National Cathedral for the morning service.
The interfaith service is hosted by the Episcopal parish. But the decision to hold a prayer session for Trump sparked debate among Episcopalians opposed to his policies.
Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington wrote in a blog post that, while she shared “a sense of outrage at some of the president-elect’s words and actions,” she felt an obligation to welcome all people without qualification, especially those who disagree and need to find a way to work together.
The service took place as throngs of women, many of them wearing bright pink, pointy-eared hats, descended on the nation’s capital and other cities around the world Saturday for marches to push back against the new president. The presidential motorcade sped past the protesters.