Intelligence comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s from a drunk. Sometimes it’s from a reputable source. The CIA provides the president with information. It’s then up to the president, and what they talk through with their advisors, as far as what (if anything) to do with the intell.
My understanding is that, in the case of the yellow cake uranium, the source was falsely made out to be reputable. Intelligence was over represented by Cheney’s squad. Colon Powell would later admit he felt betrayed by the administration,as he openly questioned the source ,and was allegedly straight lied to. He later stepped down, in large part due to that scenario.
Bush himself seemed to figure it out ,sadly far too late. He was was always in over his head. That’s why Cheney was there. He was supposed to help advise GW,and of course drive the agenda of a small number of the wealthy elite . He intentionally deceived Bush and many others, to start a war that financially benefited his companies, both in the act of war, and in the reconstruction of Iraq.
Almost every life on the planet has been effected by this manipulation of intelligence.
But there is still a glaring need for an intelligence gathering agency in any government. And it would behoove any leader to at least give them his or her ear. What they decide to do with the info is on them. I would hope that part of the reason a voter would elect a person into the presidential office, is the voter’s trust in said person’s ability to decide what information is important, and how to act on it.
If the government were a physical organism, the CIA would be a vital organ. There must be cohesiveness, and teamwork.
Trump’s actions seem closer to that of an undisputed king, rather than that of a president who is part of a government, not the government.