Trump reverses course, says he and US intelligence 'in agreement'

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reversed course on Thursday, claiming he and the American intelligence community are "in agreement" after branding them "naive" and in need of schooling the day before.

He now alleges testimony by the country's top spies had been "distorted" by journalists - one of his favorite targets.

"Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterised by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc.," Trump tweeted.

Just concluded a great meeting with my Intel team in the Oval Office who told me that what they said on Tuesday at the Senate Hearing was mischaracterized by the media - and we are very much in agreement on Iran, ISIS, North Korea, etc. Their testimony was distorted press.... pic.twitter.com/Zl5aqBmpjF

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019

"I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday," he added.

....I would suggest you read the COMPLETE testimony from Tuesday. A false narrative is so bad for our Country. I value our intelligence community. Happily, we had a very good meeting, and we are all on the same page!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019

On that day, before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the nation's top intelligence chiefs contradicted some of Trump's most fundamental foreign policy claims.



In the hearing about global threats, the country's senior spies took issue with Trump's assertion that the Islamic State militant group has been defeated, and that North Korea can be convinced to forego its nuclear weapons.

They also challenged Trump's claim that Tehran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, the justification the president gave for withdrawing last year from a multilateral treaty on Iran.

And they underscored again that Russia meddled deeply on Trump's behalf in the 2016 presidential election - which he has repeatedly denied - and can be expected to do the same in 2020.



Trump lashed out at the intelligence services in an unusually public row the day after the testimony, tweeting: "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!"

"Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!"

The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019

....a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019

Trump also touted what he said were his successes in Syria, where he has alarmed allies by abruptly announcing a withdrawal of US troops assisting local forces against the Islamic State group, and in North Korea.

It was not the first time Trump has publicly doubted his national security experts. But the vehemence of his response showed the depth of that split.