Trump 2.0: Kash Patel gets the snub as former US spy John Ratcliffe named CIA Director

US President-elect Donald Trump has named John Ratcliffe as the next Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The 59-year-old former intelligence official had previously served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term.??

"I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our nation’s highest intelligence positions. 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," Trump said in a statement announcing the nomination.??

CREDIT: REUTERS

Who is?John Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe, who is considered one of the most conservative Republicans, was elected to Congress in 2014. He is a fierce Trump loyalist and defended him in 2019 during the House’s first impeachment proceedings against him.??

“This is the thinnest, fastest and weakest impeachment our country has ever seen,” Ratcliffe had then said.??

According to some reports, Ratcliffe’s past experience in intelligence makes him a more traditional pick for the job than some rumoured loyalists suggested by Trump’s supporters.??

How Kash Patel missed out?

Earlier, many had speculated that another fierce Trump loyalist, Kash Patel, could be picked for the role. Patel had worked at the Department of Defense and the National Security Council during Trump’s first term. However, Patel had drawn animosity from some more experienced national security officials, who saw him as volatile and too eager to please the then-president.?

CREDIT: REUTERS

Many analysts had expressed concerns that Patel’s appointment could be a national security risk and argued that Senate Republicans might oppose him, as the post requires Senate confirmation.??

Also read:?Marco Rubio, not Vivek Ramaswamy likely to be the new US Secretary of State

Yet another China hawk in Trump 2.0

Ratcliffe’s appointment as CIA director is in line with the upcoming Trump administration’s key foreign policy focus — China.?

CREDIT: RRUTERS

Like other Trump appointments so far, including Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor and Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Ratcliffe is also known as a China hawk from his time as the Director of National Intelligence.

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