A Democratic lawmaker tore into President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE on Wednesday for his decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE’s security clearance.

In a tweet that came minutes after the White House announced the move, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) accused Trump of “punishing” Brennan for his harsh criticism of the president and said Trump is acting like a “dictator.”

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“A flimsy excuse to set a terrible precedent,” Beyer tweeted. “Trump is clearly punishing John Brennan for criticizing him, cracking down on a dissent and retaliating against a private citizen’s free speech.”

“The President has adopted the weak, paranoid, authoritarian behavior of a dictator,” he added.

A flimsy excuse to set a terrible precedent.



Trump is clearly punishing @JohnBrennan for criticizing him, cracking down on a dissent and retaliating against a private citizen’s free speech.



The President has adopted the weak, paranoid, authoritarian behavior of a dictator. https://t.co/c04RuFjihx — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 15, 2018

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the announcement about revoking Brennan's clearance during a press briefing on Wednesday, reading a statement from the president.

"As the head of the executive branch and the commander in chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it," Trump said in the statement.

The announcement comes weeks after Sanders first revealed that Trump was considering revoking the security clearance of Brennan and a number of other former top officials — mostly from the Obama administration — who have been critical of Trump.

Sanders said Wednesday that Trump is also reviewing access to classified information for former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeySteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Judge will not dismiss McCabe's case against DOJ Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates Sally Caroline YatesButtigieg, former officials added to Biden's transition team The Hill's 12:30 Report: Delegates stage state-centric videos for the roll call Trump fires back at Yates for convention speech: 'Terrible AG' MORE, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeJudge will not dismiss McCabe's case against DOJ Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' MORE and others.

Brennan, a frequent critic of Trump, tweeted Tuesday that the president fails “to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity” and that he “will never understand what it means to be president.”