President Trump is adamant that a few of the biggest threats to the U.S. are along our southern border, and in Iran. It's why he's been demanding billions of dollars to build a border wall and why he has often sounded off on Iran's nuclear goals.
The intelligence community disagrees. At the Senate Intelligence Committee's worldwide threats hearing on Tuesday, FBI and CIA and other national security officials contradicted the commander in chief's foreign policy assessment. For instance, Director of National Intelligence Chief Dan Coats noted that ISIS still has "thousands of fighters" at large, while Trump has insisted the terror group has been defeated. Coats also explained that North Korea was still a nuclear threat, despite Trump's confidently stating the nation is taking steps toward denuclearization. Then, CIA Director Gina Haspel said Iran is complying with the guidelines under the nuclear agreement signed by President Obama in 2015, but Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the accord last May, says Iran is still building nuclear weapons.
As other media noted, the intel officials did not once mention that we need a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
"I don't think we've ever seen anything like this where all the Intel chiefs are at odds with the president's public pronouncements," Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said on MSNBC Wednesday.
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee also used the chiefs' remarks to push back at the president's rhetoric.
We say over and over there’s no real security crisis at the border....
— House Homeland Security Committee (@HomelandDems) January 30, 2019
But hey, no need to take our word for it.
“The chiefs made no mention of a crisis at the U.S.-Mexican border for which Trump has considered declaring a national emergency.”
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Two could play at that game, however. On Twitter Wednesday morning, Trump suggested that the intel community "go back to school" to get educated on the current threats to the U.S.
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
One thing Trump and the intel chiefs did agree on, is the threat of China, both in terms of military and trade.