Former CIA Director Gina Haspel. Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo
Haspel stated that Trump "acted out like a 6-year-old" following the 2020 election. A new book explains this.
"We are on our way to a right-wing coup. "The whole thing is insane," Haspel stated, according to the book.
Trump's firing as Defense Sec. made Haspel particularly nervous. According to the book, Mark Esper was fired by Trump.
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According to a new book, Gina Haspel, then-CIA Director, told US's top general that Donald Trump was acting "like a six-year old with a tantrum" after the 2020 election.
Trump refused to concede the 2020 election for President-elect Joe Biden, and made unfounded claims of election fraud. He also fired or attempted to fire a number top officials, most notably Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, on November 9.
According to Robert Costa and Bob Woodward, "Peril" will be published by Robert Costa. Haspel stated that "Yesterday was appalling" in a conversation with Gen. Mark Milley on November 10, 2010.
"We are on our way to a right-wing coup. This whole thing is insane. He's acting like a six year old with a tantrum," Haspel said. She is a 35-year veteran of agency. The authors also wrote that she was afraid of being canned.
According to the book, Milley assured Haspel "we're going be steady." He added, "Steady like a rock." "We will keep our eyes on the horizon. Be alert for any dangers or risks. You should keep your channels open."
"Peril" as well as other books about Trump's administration, released this summer, offer insight into Trump's final months. Many senior officials find Trump's behavior alarming.
Woodward and Costa claim that Milley called his Chinese counterpart to inform him that the American government was stable and "everything is going to be alright" and to warn him of an attack by the US.
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Politico was told by one official that the conversation was "grossly misscharacterized" in the book. The Pentagon has responded to Milley's defense, John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesperson, telling reporters that it is "not only common, but expected that a chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff would continue having counterpart conversations."
Michael Bender, Wall Street Journal reporter, says that Trump's then-Secretary to State Mike Pompeo expressed concern to at least one person in his book "Frankly we Did Win This Election" that Trump might enter into foreign conflicts to keep his office in place after losing the 2020 election.
Trump's firing Esper did not only upset Haspel, but it also alienated David Urban, another top advisor. Urban told Jared Kushner, the president's son in law and senior advisor, that Esper's firing was "a stupid move" that made Trump look "out of control," according to Bender's book.
According to the book, Pompeo and Milley feared conspiracy theorists were coming into the Defense Department after 2020's election. They could have even "linkeds with neo-Nazi organizations."
Business Insider has the original article.
