CNN analyst wonders when 'almost a shadow government' will come out against Trump

CNN analyst and former CIA official Philip Mudd on Monday wondered whether "almost a shadow government” will come out against President Donald Trump after the controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Curious point in American government: When do we see almost a shadow government come out and say, ‘we cannot side with the government,’ whether it’s the Cabinet or the Senate,” Mudd said during a broadcast in Helsinki, Finland.

"Curious point in American government. When do we see almost a shadow government come out and say ‘we cannot side with the government,’ whether it’s the Cabinet or the Senate."

— Philip Mudd

His comments, which quickly spread on social media, came after Anderson Cooper asked whether he agrees with Sen. John McCain’s assessment of the summit as “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”

Mudd went on to question whether “members of the president’s inner circle” will come out and say to Trump: “Look, we have an overseas dilemma where you are portraying us, in terms of the American government, as worse than a tyrant — that is, Vladimir Putin.”

Mudd’s controversial remarks were aired as the president came under fire for not condemning the Kremlin’s interference in unequivocal terms.

Trump said during the press conference with Putin that he has great confidence in the U.S. intelligence community, but the Russian president gave a “strong and powerful” denial. He added that he doesn't “see any reason why” Russia would be behind election meddling.

The president also said that both Russia and the U.S. are to blame for strained relations.