President-elect Donald Trump announced he has selected John Ratcliffe, his former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and close ally, to head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Ratcliffe, who served as DNI from May 2020 until Trump left office in January 2021, has remained active in national security, co-chairing the Center for American Security think tank, which promotes Trump-aligned policies, and advising Trump on security matters throughout his 2024 campaign.
“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said. “He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH
STRENGTH.”
Ratcliffe, a former U.S. Congressman, pledged to deliver “objective and timely intelligence” when he was first confirmed as DNI in 2020. During his tenure, he focused on issues like Iran’s military activities, North Korea’s nuclear program, and foreign interference in U.S. elections.
Ratcliffe’s initial nomination as DNI in 2019 was withdrawn over concerns about his experience and partisanship, but he was confirmed in 2020 by a Republican-majority Senate, with Democrats voting against his appointment. Given his previous experience and the incoming Republican control of the Senate, Ratcliffe’s confirmation as CIA director is expected to proceed without difficulty.
In recent years, Ratcliffe has been an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. In a June article, he argued that Biden’s stance on suspending weapon shipments to Israel amid the Gaza conflict compromised a key U.S. ally. He has also taken a strong stance on China, asserting in a 2020 Wall Street Journal article that Beijing aims to surpass the U.S. in economic, military, and technological dominance.
As DNI, Ratcliffe faced criticism from Democrats and former intelligence officials, who accused him of selectively declassifying intelligence to aid Trump’s political interests, including information that could undermine Trump’s opponent, Joe Biden. Ratcliffe’s office denied these accusations.
Ratcliffe first joined Congress in 2015, representing a Texas district and serving on both the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees. He became a prominent supporter of Trump during the impeachment proceedings initiated by the Democratic-led House in 2019. Trump was acquitted by the Senate, making him the only U.S. president to be impeached twice.
Trump’s relationship with the intelligence community has often been tense; he has previously accused agencies like the CIA of being part of a “deep state,” a term he uses to describe career federal employees he believes work against his administration’s goals.
