White House doesn't reject idea of 'deep state' working against Trump

During a press briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested that the Trump administration is being undermined by some government employees, reports CNN.

When he was asked if he believes a "deep state" system exists within the U.S. government, Spicer said, "Well, I think that there's no question when you have eight years of one party in office that there are people who stay in government who are affiliated with, joined, and continue to espouse the agenda of the previous administration."

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He added, "So I don't think it should come as any surprise that there are people that burrowed into government during eight years of the last administration, and may have believed in that agenda and what to continue to seek it. I don't think that should come as a surprise to anyone."

Spicer was then asked if top intelligence officials "have a presidential mandate to seek these people out and fire them or purge them from the government?"

He responded by saying, "That's not part of the CIA's mandate under any circumstances..."

Deep states, as seen in countries like Egypt and Turkey, are "shadowy networks within government bureaucracies [that] undermine and coerce elected governments."

The New York Times noted on Monday, "President Trump's allegations that former President Barack Obama tapped his phone and his assertions that the bureaucracy is leaking secrets to discredit him are the latest signs of a White House preoccupation with a 'deep state' working to thwart the Trump presidency."