President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of John Ratcliffe, a former director of national intelligence (DNI) and longtime ally, to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Ratcliffe, who previously led the nation’s intelligence community during Trump’s first term, would be the first person to have held both the CIA and DNI roles if confirmed.
Ratcliffe, a staunch Trump supporter, served as director of national intelligence from May 2020 until January 2021, overseeing U.S. intelligence during a period of significant international challenges and domestic tensions.
Recently, he co-chaired the Center for American Security, a think tank aligned with Trump’s policy positions, and advised the president-elect on national security during the 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 in a statement announcing Ratcliffe’s nomination.
“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 Texas congressman, initially pledged upon his confirmation as DNI in 2020 to deliver “objective and timely intelligence” to leaders across the government.
He emphasised his commitment to impartiality, vowing to prioritise US national security interests above partisan considerations. Ratcliffe’s 2020 confirmation came amid partisan divides, with all Democratic senators voting against him, questioning his qualifications and political neutrality.
This time around, with Republicans set to hold a Senate majority, Ratcliffe’s confirmation appears likely.
In his previous tenure as DNI, Ratcliffe cited Iran’s military development, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, and foreign election interference as priority issues.
His track record as DNI has been marked by staunch positions, particularly on China and the Middle East, which may signal his approach if he assumes leadership of the CIA.
Since leaving office, Ratcliffe has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s approach to the Middle East, taking aim at its response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a June article, he argued that President Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel over its actions in Gaza jeopardised a crucial US ally and emboldened adversaries in the region. Ratcliffe also warned that the administration had not shown enough firmness toward Iran.
As DNI, Ratcliffe established himself as a leading China hawk, articulating concerns about Beijing’s global ambitions in a December 2020 article for the Wall Street Journal. “The intelligence is clear:
Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily, and technologically,” Ratcliffe wrote, signaling what has become a key priority for both parties in Congress.
Despite bipartisan interest in countering China, Ratcliffe’s time as DNI was clouded by controversy, with Democrats and former intelligence officials accusing him of selectively declassifying information to favor Trump and his allies.
Critics argued that he used intelligence disclosures to politically attack Trump’s 2020 rival, Joe Biden. Ratcliffe’s office consistently denied these accusations, maintaining that all intelligence decisions were made impartially.
Ratcliffe’s nomination marks Trump’s second attempt to appoint him to a high-profile intelligence role. Trump initially tapped Ratcliffe to lead the intelligence community in 2019, despite Ratcliffe’s limited experience on the House Intelligence Committee at the time.
However, bipartisan concerns over Ratcliffe’s partisanship and perceived inexperience prompted Trump to withdraw the nomination. Undeterred, Trump successfully re-nominated Ratcliffe in 2020, rallying Republican support with the argument that a full-time DNI was essential.
Ratcliffe’s career in the House, where he represented a Texas district and served on both the intelligence and judiciary committees, was defined by his vocal support for Trump, particularly during the Democratic-led impeachment proceedings in 2019. Ratcliffe’s defense of Trump during the trial established him as a trusted figure in Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s choice of Ratcliffe came amid a strained history between the president-elect and the intelligence community, including the CIA, with Trump frequently accusing intelligence officials of being part of a “deep state” aligned against him.
Chioma Kalu
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