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 responded to criticism that he has only considered revoking the security clearances of former intelligence officials who served in Democratic administrations, saying he wouldn't rule out taking away a Republican's credentials.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he “would put a Republican on, too, if I thought they were incompetent or crazy.”

In a statement ready by press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday, Trump said he decided to revoke ex-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 and that several other Obama-era intelligence officials' clearances are under review.

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The names included 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, 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 National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden, 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 National Security Adviser Susan Rice, 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, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and Department of Justice official Bruce Ohr.

Critics quickly pointed out that every individual on the list served in the Obama administration. One journalist noted in Wednesday's news briefing that the list did not include Trump's own former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded has guilty to lying to the FBI as part of 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's investigation.

Trump told the Journal that his decision was connected to the investigation into Russian interference, noting that he holds Brennan and the other former intelligence officials accountable for starting the probe.

Brennan served as CIA director under former President Obama, and was one of the officials who briefed Trump prior to his inauguration on evidence of Russian interference.

He has since become one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration, frequently tearing into the president on Twitter and suggesting he lacks the decency to hold the office.

Sanders denied that the revocation was meant to send a message to Trump's critics, instead referring to a statement from Trump that said Brennan was leveraging his clearance to make “unfounded and outrageous” charges about the current administration.