Michael Hayden, a former CIA and National Security Agency director, was rushed to hospital this week after suffering from a stroke, according to his namesake think tank.

"He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful," George Mason University's Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security said in a statement issued on behalf of Hayden's wife Jeanine and the couple's family.

"As Gen. Hayden begins the healing process, the family requests that their privacy be respect," the statement continued. "The general and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters."



Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA and a prolific Trump critic, was hospitalized earlier this week after suffering a stroke, his namesake center announces. pic.twitter.com/wcKtbLlZdW — Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) November 23, 2018



Hayden is a retired U.S. Air Force four-star general and ardent critic of President Trump. A prolific social media user, his last tweet on Nov. 20 was sharing an article about White House special adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump's use of private email to conduct government business.

Hayden served former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as director of the National Security Agency. He then continued serving with the Bush administration as principal deputy director of national intelligence and CIA director. He stayed in his role at the CIA until February 2009 before he was replaced by Leon Panetta.