CNN political analyst David Gergen issued a stark warning about the Trump administration on Sunday, saying the threat of authoritarian rule under President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE is growing.

"It is the beginnings, in many other countries it's been the beginnings of an authoritarian rule, and that's the larger threat hanging over us now," Gergen said on CNN's "Reliable Sources."

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Gergen was referring to Trump's comments slamming the news media, which has often been critical of the president, as well as institutions like the FBI.

"We have an election that's just around the corner later this year. What if the Democrats take the House back? Is all of that going to be blamed on fake news? What if they fall short? Are Democrats going to think, you know, it was all that meddling, and they have won a few seats that they wouldn't have otherwise won," he said earlier.

Special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE last week announced charges against over a dozen Russians in the federal probe into Russia's election meddling.

In response, Trump issued a series of tweets slamming the news media and the ongoing probes into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He also blamed the Obama administration for not doing enough to deter Russia.

If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

The Fake News Media never fails. Hard to ignore this fact from the Vice President of Facebook Ads, Rob Goldman! https://t.co/XGC7ynZwYJ — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2018

The president took aim specifically at CNN on Sunday, referring to the network as a "big ratings loser," citing its coverage of the Russian investigations.

The Fake News of big ratings loser CNN. https://t.co/rYsv90cnvs — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

Trump's tweet included another user's tweet showing a cartoon of Wolf Blitzer as an old man in 2038, with the caption "Update! We should see evidence of Russia-Trump collusion any day now."