power to do so and can use it whenever he sees fit. that isn't, however, getting the president any friends within the intelligence community. and as you mentioned, there's a growing list of current and former intelligence officials who are speaking out against the president's motives. in fact, many of them pointing out that this is difficult and could lead to a national security breach because it will make intelligence officials feel as though they cannot give the president objective information as a result. listen to part of the statement these intelligence officials put out. they said, quote, all of us believe it is cite doritical to protect classified information. but we believe equally strongly that the former government officials have the right to express their unclassified views on what they see as critical national security issues without the fear of being punished for doing so. the country will be weakened if there is a political litmus test they call it applied before seasoned experts are allowed to share their views. that's part of what the concern here is.