Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
TRUMP HOUSE CALL
President blasts media, tells CIA: ‘I am so behind you’
LANGLEY, Va. — President Donald Trump moved to repair his tumultuous relationship with America’s spy agencies on his first full day in office, but his bridge-building visit to CIA headquarters Saturday quickly morphed into a platform for the new commander in chief to complain about media coverage of his inauguration.
Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents, Trump assured intelligence officials, “I am so behind you.” He made no mention of his repeated criticism of the intelligence agencies following the election, including his public challenges of their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in the White House race to help him win.
“There is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and CIA than Donald Trump,” he said, blaming any suggestion of a “feud” on the media.
Trump’s decision to travel to CIA headquarters so quickly after taking office was seen as an attempt at a fresh start with the intelligence agencies he will now rely on for guidance as he makes weighty national security decisions. Following his private meeting with top CIA leaders, Trump said the U.S. had been “restrained” in its efforts to combat terrorism, calling the threat “a level of evil we haven’t seen.”
Trump vowed to lead the fight against the Islamic State, a rallying cry for intelligence officers: “We’ve been fighting these wars for longer than any wars we’ve ever fought. We have not used the real abilities that we have.”
He added, “Radical Islamic terrorism — and I said it yesterday — has to be eradicated, just off the face of the earth. This is evil.”
Trump praised his nominee for CIA director, Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., who has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, a process that was delayed Friday.
The 45th president’s inauguration has been shadowed by news reports 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.
During his remarks at the CIA, the president claimed the inaugural crowds topped 1 million people.
Saturday marked the end of three days 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.