Joe Kent

I guess you are confirming, by the way, the White House told us that there was nothing to be seen about that.

But from your telling, obviously, there was something.

that we could gleam a little bit from that takeaway.

So I do think it's very important to say then that if some bespoke process played out, we have to really investigate that bespoke process and the information that was getting to Trump then and also now.

And so, again, I respect your want to not play the palace intrigue story.

But I will say for people like me,

It is deeply frustrating to watch people who told us to our face privately and publicly, we're not going to do this.

And then it happened.

And what we've seen publicly reported is that when you took your concerns to the vice president and to the DNI, that they told you not to make a big thing about it.

I wonder if you can comment about your frustration.

First of all, if you can tell us whether that report is true or not, but really to just to tell us

what that tension is like for the people who ostensibly did share those views and what they're doing right now and the way that they're even voicing any concern to Donald Trump.

In terms of the process, it was just frustrating to see the stark night and day difference.

I got to a place where I was okay with Midnight Hammer because we had had such a robust debate.

And I've heard criticisms of me where they say, hey, if you don't like what the president's doing as one of his appointees, then go ahead and voice your opinion behind closed doors.

Offer other options.

When he smacks the table, you salute and move out.

Okay, that was where I was at with the 12-day war and with Midnight Hammer because our voices were heard.

It was a robust debate.

And at the end of the day, hey, you know, we lose.