Ex-intel chief says Helsinki appeasement raises new fears of Trump-Russia blackmail

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told CNN on Thursday that he's worried that President Donald Trump may indeed have been compromised by the Russian government.

While discussing Trump's now infamous joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Clapper said that he's now started to question whether the Russian government has some information that it's been using to blackmail the president.

"I have been trying my best to give the president the benefit of the doubt," he said. "But more and more, I've come to the conclusion that, after the Helsinki performance and since, that I really do wonder whether the Russians have something on him. His behavior is just unbelievable. I'm still trying to get my head around what I witnessed at the Helsinki press conference."

CNN host Alisyn Camerota then asked Clapper to discuss Trump's consideration of Putin's proposal to let Russian officials interrogate former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul -- and Clapper absolutely went off on the president.

"That is one of the most preposterous things I can recall in my 50 years of experience serving this country," he said. "I couldn't believe that, that there was any doubt or equivocation, or that such an absurd proposal was even under consideration."

Watch the video below.