▲ President Trump
Former U.S. intelligence officials are warning that U.S. President Donald Trump's governing style is beginning to resemble that of a dictator, the Financial Times (FT) reported on the 9th, local time.
They noted that President Trump's behavior of suppressing criticism against himself while demanding loyalty from those around him is similar to the behavior exhibited by other authoritarian leaders.
Paul Kolbe, a former CIA station chief, claimed, "There is a relatively common pattern in how dictators seize and exercise power," adding, "It overlaps with what is currently happening in the United States."
Voices of concern were also raised regarding the phenomenon of a "cult of personality" surrounding President Trump.
Gail Helt, who handled China and Taiwan issues at another intelligence agency, pointed out, "Even China's Mao Zedong did not put his own face on currency," following mentions of a plan to issue a 250-dollar banknote featuring President Trump's face to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Kolbe is a member of "Steady State," an association of former intelligence officials formed in 2016 in the wake of concerns over the spread of authoritarianism within the United States.
This group has been raising its voice, claiming that President Trump is undermining checks and balances on the executive branch and that such a situation threatens American democracy and the business environment.
The FT reported that former intelligence officials who once operated in the shadows speaking out publicly demonstrates a growing atmosphere of concern regarding President Trump within U.S. intelligence agencies.
Julia Curly, a former CIA analyst, pointed out, "The problem is that if everyone says nothing, that is how we end up in the situation we are facing now."
In response to the criticism from former intelligence personnel, White House spokesperson's office representative Davis Ingle claimed, "President Trump is restoring democracy by taking power out of the hands of unelected bureaucrats and returning it to the American people."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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