Trump Appoints John Ratcliffe as CIA Director in Anticipated Second Term

Trump Announces John Ratcliffe as CIA Head in New Term

Washington DC, USA – President-elect Donald Trump has named John Ratcliffe, his former director of national intelligence, as his choice to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in his upcoming administration set to begin in January.

At 59 years old, Ratcliffe is expected to focus on addressing national security threats posed by foreign powers, particularly China and Iran. His confirmation by the Senate is anticipated as he steps into a role that experienced tensions during Trump’s first presidency.

Throughout Trump’s initial term, he often took to social media to voice criticism of U.S. intelligence agencies, while at times expressing admiration for figures such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This friction primarily arose from intelligence assessments confirming that Russia had meddled in the 2016 presidential election with the intention of favoring Trump. The former president has repeatedly claimed that the so-called “deep state” was being exploited against him and his associates. A defining moment of this discord emerged during the 2018 Helsinki summit when Trump publicly supported Putin’s denials over the assertions made by U.S. intelligence regarding Russian interference.

In a statement, Trump expressed confidence in Ratcliffe’s leadership capabilities, stating, “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’s background includes his previous role as a Republican congressman from Texas, where he was first elected in 2014, before serving as the director of national intelligence at the end of Trump’s first term.