Outgoing CIA Director John Brennan on Sunday issued a stern parting rebuke to President-elect Donald Trump on the week he assumes the U.S. presidency, warning him against absolving Russia for recent actions and to watch what he says.
"Spontaneity is not something that protects national security interests and so therefore when he speaks or when he reacts, just make sure he understands that the implications and impact on the United States could be profound," Brennan said on "Fox News Sunday."
"It's more than just about Mr. Trump. It's about the United States of America."
Brennan slammed Trump for his comments likening the actions of the intelligence community to those of Nazi Germany.
"What I do find outrageous is equating intelligence community with Nazi Germany," Brennan said."
"I do take great umbrage with that and there is no basis for Mr. Trump to point fingers at the intelligence community for leaking information that was already available publicly."
Trump last week blasted intelligence agencies after it was reported that Trump had been briefed on an unverified dossier alleging Russia had compromising information on him.
"Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to 'leak' into the public," the president-elect tweeted. "One last shot at me.Are we living in Nazi Germany?"
At a press conference last week, he added that it was "disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake out."
"I think it's a disgrace, and I say that, and that's something that Nazi Germany who have done and did do," he said.
"I think it's a disgrace that information that was false and fake and never happened got released to the public.
Brennan said Trump needs more discipline
"He is going to be in a few days time the most powerful person in the world in terms of sitting on top of the United States government," Brennan said, "and I think he has to recognize that his words do have impact."