Former CIA Director John Brennan was critical of President Donald Trump's comments on a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying they put America's national security and the future of its citizens "at grave risk."
Brennan made the comments in a personal letter to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer after Blitzer noted on air that all four of his grandparents died at the hands of the German Nazi regime.
Trump has come under intense criticism by Democrats as well as fellow Republicans after his initial comments on the violence blamed "all sides." That was seen as pandering to some members of his base.
Trump issued a stronger statement Monday, specifically condemning racism, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and the Ku Klux Klan. That brought Trump some defenders, but others said it seemed forced and insincere.
Trump doubled down Tuesday on his original statement during a press conference, saying there were good people on both sides of the protests, as well as bad. That brought even more criticism.
In Brennan's letter to Blitzer, he called Trump's words "despicable" and a "national disgrace."
"If allowed to continue along this senseless path, Mr. Trump will do lasting harm to American society and to our standing in the world," he said. "By his words and his actions, Mr. Trump is putting our national security and our collective futures at grave risk."