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 on Tuesday renewed his criticism of President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE, focusing on his administration's trade policy one day after the White House said the president was looking at revoking Brennan's security clearance.

In his first public comment since the White House said it was considering the action, Brennan called Trump's decision to implement steep tariffs against allies "short-sighted."

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"Using tariffs as a blunt force instrument against allies and partners is not only short-sighted but also plays into the hands of Russia and China. Same is true with bombastic rhetoric against Iran," Brennan tweeted.

"We need to be smarter, more sophisticated, more strategic," he added.

Using tariffs as a blunt force instrument against allies and partners is not only short-sighted but also plays into the hands of Russia and China. Same is true with bombastic rhetoric against Iran. We need to be smarter, more sophisticated, more strategic. https://t.co/bMMwsWCR2y — John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) July 24, 2018

Brennan's tweet came in response to Trump declaring earlier Tuesday, "Tariffs are the greatest!"

The president has slapped billions in tariffs on longtime allies, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The U.S. and China have also exchanged tens of billions of dollars worth of duties on each other as part of an escalating trade war.

Trump has repeatedly defended the decision, despite overwhelming opposition from lawmakers in both parties who warn that tariffs hurt American workers.

Brennan also made note of Trump's tweet Sunday night in which he warned that Iran would face consequences "the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before" if it threatened the U.S.

Brennan, who served as CIA director under President Obama, has been among the fiercest critics of Trump, particularly in the wake of his trip to Europe earlier this month.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at Monday's press briefing that Trump is considering taking away security clearances for Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper James Robert ClapperOn China, Biden is no Nixon — and no Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report - Speculation over Biden's running mate announcement Trump slams former intelligence officials to explain 'reluctance to embrace' agencies MORE and other former officials who have been highly critical of the president.

“The president doesn’t like the fact that people are politicizing agencies and departments that are specifically meant to not be political," Sanders said.

The idea was first raised by Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulRand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts Health officials tell public to trust in science MORE (R-Ky.), who met with Trump on Monday.

While Brennan has not directly responded to the suggestion, Clapper called it a "very petty thing to do" and noted that his criticisms of the president are not dependent upon having a security clearance.