The former director of national intelligence blasted President Trump's speech at an Arizona rally late Tuesday and raised questions about Trump's fitness for office.

"I don't know when I've listened and watched something like this from a president that I found more disturbing," James Clapper said during a interview on CNN.

James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, says he questions President Trump's fitness for office https://t.co/IRRXg7paZM — CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2017

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"Having some understanding of the levers of power that are available to a president if he chooses to exercise them, I found this downright scary and disturbing."

Clapper was pressed on whether he questions Trump's fitness for office.

"I really question ... his fitness to be in this office," Clapper said.

"I also am beginning to wonder about his motivation for it, maybe he is looking for a way out."

Clapper said Trump should have "quit while he was ahead" after his Afghanistan speech on Monday.

"But again, I think the real Trump came through," he said.

Trump on in his speech Tuesday defended his response to the violent clashes at a white supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville, Va.

During the rally, he talked about the need for unity and inclusion but then veered off-script to attack the news media, Democrats and even Republicans in the Senate whom he accused of distorting his response to Charlottesville and blocking his agenda.