Story highlights Officials say Trump behaves differently in private

They are trying to understand why he doubts the intel

(CNN) Intelligence officials are increasingly dismayed about President-elect Donald Trump's tweets and continued public attacks against them, describing his conduct as distressing, officials told CNN Wednesday.

"Nobody wants to get off on the wrong foot with the new boss. We're heading into this different era where it's hostile," one official said.

Another official added, "It's a sad day when politicians place more stock in (Russian President Vladimir Putin and (WikiLeaks founder) Julian Assange than in the Americans who risk their lives daily to provide objective, non-partisan intelligence analysis."

Julian Assange said "a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta" - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017

That was a reference to Trump's tweet on Wednesday noting that Assange said he didn't get hacked Democratic Party emails from the Russians , who have also denied the hacking allegations.

"@FoxNews: Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: "It's very dishonest." #Hannity pic.twitter.com/ADcPRQifH9" More dishonest than anyone knows — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017

Adding to the concern, officials said there is a disconnect between Trump's public pronouncements about the intelligence community and his behind-the-scenes behavior when he's sitting across the table at closed-door intel briefings.

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