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 blasted President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE for labeling the Justice Department as the “deep state,” saying Trump’s tweet was “reprehensible.”

“I think it’s pretty reprehensible to use that phraseology,” Clapper said on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” Tuesday. “I guess who that refers to is the … career civil servants who are patriots [and] dedicated to the country. I’d point out that when you take the oath of office as a civil servant, you swear to uphold the Constitution.”

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“It doesn’t say anything about pledging loyalty to this president, or any other,” he continued. “And if not doing so is what constitutes being part of the ‘deep state,’ I think … that represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what this country’s all about, and what our government is all about, and I find that characterization disturbing.”

In an early morning tweet on Tuesday, Trump called for the Justice Department to “act” on former Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE adviser Huma Abedin and former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyTrump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa 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.

"Crooked Hillary Clinton’s top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols," Trump tweeted.

"She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others"

Crooked Hillary Clinton’s top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

Clapper ripped Trump for singling out Abedin and Comey, saying it was “beyond the pale.”

“The whole issue of a president — this one or any other — reaching out or pointing the finger at somebody who ought to go to jail or be investigated, again, is beyond the pale.” Clapper said. “That’s not proper.”

Trump appeared to be referring to a report in The Daily Caller that said Abedin had forwarded State Department emails to her personal Yahoo account.

Those emails, according to that report, included passwords to government systems and were forwarded to her personal account before a breach at Yahoo affected every customer account.

Last month, the State Department released portions of 2,800 emails and other documents belonging to Abedin that were recovered by the FBI in 2016 on Abedin's estranged husband Anthony Weiner's computer.