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 issued one of his most stern rebukes yet of 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 Friday night, arguing that the political climate in the country is likely to get worse under his tenure.

“Fundamentally, though, what he’s doing to this country, he’s dividing us … He’s dividing Americans," Brennan said of the president during an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

"So I’m really concerned that as he continues to play to his base, he’s further dividing us, and I’m really concerned about whether this could spill over into the streets,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brennan and Trump have been engaged in back-and-forth attacks since the president revoked Brennan’s security clearance earlier this month in what was widely viewed as retaliation for the former Obama administration official's vocal criticism of the president.

The White House released a statement on Aug. 15 slamming Brennan, citing “lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary” and his engagement in “highly partisan positions.”

Brennan, who directed the CIA from 2013 to 2017 and was involved in the intelligence community assessment stating Russia meddled in the 2016 election, explained Friday that he was concerned by Trump’s apparent refusal to clearly agree with that assessment at a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July.

“Treasonous is defined as a betrayal of trust as well as aiding and abetting the enemy, so that was the word that came to mind … This was an opportunity for Donald Trump to fulfill his responsibilities, to say, ‘Russia, cut this out, don’t do it again, and if you do it again, you’re going to pay a cost,’ ” Brennan said Friday.

The comments come as Trump has engaged in a new wave of attacks on 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 into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia as the special counsel notched a major win this week.

Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Bannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE was convicted this week of bank and tax fraud, charges stemming from Mueller's probe.

Former longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen also pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud as well as campaign finance violations, saying Trump directed him during the 2016 campaign to buy the silence of two women who claimed they had past affairs with Trump.

During his interview with Maher on Friday, Brennan also expressed disappointment in GOP lawmakers’ reluctance to disagree with Trump in public.

“Since John McCain John Sidney McCainAnalysis: Biden victory, Democratic sweep would bring biggest boost to economy The Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE has left the hill, the Republican spines have left with him, and there needs to be some reckoning within the Republican Party that we can’t allow this to go on," Brennan said.

"I surely hope that those adults and those people in the White House and in the Cabinet and in the Congress are going to recognize that they need to act before there’s a real disaster."