CNN's Jake Tapper and ex-US spy chief mock Putin as 'insecure' child throwing a tantrum over showy nukes test

The former director of American National Intelligence on Friday pulled some jokes from up his sleeve when mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin over his showy nuclear tests earlier in the week.

Discussing Putin's Thursday speech on his nuclear capabilities, CNN host Jake Tapper asked former DNI James Clapper if he too was struck by how "insecure" the Russian president sounded during his speech.

"It's almost like rhetorically hitting the spoon on the high chair, demanding attention like my kids would do," the onetime spy chief noted.

Putin "doesn't feel like he's getting respect," Clapper continued, saying the Russian leader may have "kind of a Rodney Dangerfield complex" and referencing the famous comedian's most notorious line.

Watch Clapper discuss Putin's nuclear showmanship below, via CNN: