Trump said it was "reluctant" to trust the US intelligence community because of what he called "dirty cops" like former FBI director James Comey.

"John Bolton, one of the most silliest guys I have ever met in government, often said that I respect and even trust Russia's Vladimir Putin more than the people in our intelligence service," US President

"Of course that's not true, but if the first people you meet in the so-called 'American intelligence' are the 'dirty cops' who are now proven to be top-level crapes like James.

Comey, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and former directors of National Intelligence Clapper and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Brennan were both appointed under Obama.

In response to Trump on Twitter, Mr Brennan wrote: "It is no surprise that Trump shares with Putin his deep contempt for Americans serving his country and against Russia's attempts to undermine national security.

Trump decided to fire Comey in May 2017 and a few days later, Robert Mueller was appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the suspicion of Russia interfering in the 2016 US election. The US intelligence community concluded that Russia had intervened.