00:00 According to a media report by Politico, former US President Donald Trump is considering significant
00:08 reforms within the US intelligence community if he wins the re-election, raising concerns
00:13 among agencies that previously accused him of ties to Russia.
00:17 According to reports, Trump plans to replace perceived adversaries with loyalists that
00:22 can undermine the credibility of American agencies, according to 18 intelligence officials
00:27 interviewed by Politico.
00:28 The potential purge is being seen as an attempt to retaliate against those who opposed him
00:32 and his agenda of politics.
00:35 Specifically named are the former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell and
00:40 his aide Kash Patel, who played the roles in declassifying materials related to the
00:44 origins of the Russiagate controversy.
00:46 Trump's adversarial relationship with the intelligence community stems from his dispute
00:50 over Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election, with Trump challenging intelligence
00:55 assessment publicly.
00:57 The strained relation prompted resignation from key officials like DNI Dan Coats and
01:02 raised concerns about politicization of the intelligence.
01:05 Whereas several critics, including former national security adviser John Bolton and
01:09 top Russia adviser Fiona Hill, fear that Trump's reforms can weaponize the intelligence community
01:14 and compromise national security.
01:17 Trump's hostility to the intelligence community was related to the infamous document claiming
01:21 that Russia interfered in the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.
01:26 Now, the very agencies are worrying that Trump may lead to total overhaul if he wins a re-election.
01:32 They worry that the purges could lead to the loss of experienced personnel and erode trust
01:37 in U.S. leadership both domestically and among international allies.
01:40 Whereas the Biden administration believes such efforts to rebuild relationships could
01:44 be hampered if Trump's reforms proceed, undermining U.S.'s influence on the global stage.
01:49 [MUSIC]
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