On Sunday, President Trump announced he will nominate Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to replace Dan Coats as his Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Ratcliffe is recognized as a strong conservative who has been in Trump’s corner throughout his time in the White House, while Coats has occasionally been be out of tune with his boss.
“I am pleased to announce that highly respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence,” the President tweeted. “A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves. Dan Coats, the current Director, will…. ….be leaving office on August 15th. I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country. The Acting Director will be named shortly.”
….be leaving office on August 15th. I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country. The Acting Director will be named shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2019
Ratcliffe tweeted his gratitude and eagerness to get to work.
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to lead our Nation’s intelligence community and work on behalf of all the public servants who are tirelessly devoted to defending the security and safety of the United States.
— John Ratcliffe (@RepRatcliffe) July 29, 2019
of Texas over the past five years. I will take their wisdom and common sense with me in my new role, and I will always remember with pride my service to them, and all that we have accomplished together.
— John Ratcliffe (@RepRatcliffe) July 29, 2019
Just days ago, Ratcliffe memorably took Robert Mueller to task about his Constitutional abuses during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
“Can you give me an example other than Donald Trump where the Justice Department determined that an investigated person was not exonerated because their innocence was not conclusively determined?” Ratcliffe demanded of Mueller, who stumbled to answer before simply saying this was a “unique situation.”
Fiery Ratcliffe makes shaky Mueller reluctantly admit it’s not his job to exonerate anyone https://t.co/PZRjvx5yBM
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) July 24, 2019
Trump supporters are applauding the DNI move. Sebastian Gorka, an intelligence analyst who served as Deputy Assistant to President Trump in 2017, tweeted, “I remember first meeting Dan Coats in the White in the 2nd week of the Administration. A nice man. Totally out of his depth as DNI. @RepRatcliffe as his replacement is promising. ESPECIALLY after he took Mueller to the ‘exoneration’ woodshed last week.”
I remember first meeting Dan Coats in the White in the 2nd week of the Administration.
A nice man. Totally out of his depth as DNI.@RepRatcliffe as his replacement is promising.
ESPECIALLY after he took Mueller to the ”exoneration” woodshed last week.https://t.co/6SsNWUg4XB
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) July 29, 2019
Coats has had disagreements with Trump over Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and on one occasion the president took a veiled shot at his DNI when he tweeted about “passive and naive” U.S. intelligence leaders, saying they should “go back to school.”
Meanwhile, liberals are expressing their dismay at the prospect of having Ratcliffe running the intelligence show.
Ken Dilanian, the Fusion GPS-connected NBC reporter who is highly implicated in the Russia collusion conspiracy theory, is tweeting his concern about John Ratcliffe’s nomination. pic.twitter.com/bBt80BwjSx
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) July 28, 2019
Replacing Coats has been on Trump’s “to-do” list for some time, according to Washington pundits, and Ratcliffe has been on the president’s radar all along. But the congressman’s performance last week in the Mueller hearing seems to have clinched the job for him.
There is no doubt that Ratcliffe will face strong opposition by Senate Democrats in his confirmation hearing.
“It’s clear that Rep. Ratcliffe was selected because he exhibited blind loyalty to President Trump with his demagogic questioning of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted. “If Senate Republicans elevate such a partisan player to a position that requires intelligence expertise and non-partisanship, it would be a big mistake.”
It’s clear Rep. Ratcliffe was selected because he exhibited blind loyalty to @realDonaldTrump with his demagogic questioning of Mueller.
If Senate Republicans elevate such a partisan player to a position requiring intelligence expertise & non-partisanship, it’d be a big mistake. https://t.co/2uYP8vD39o
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 28, 2019
“From day one, Trump has made his disdain for the intelligence community clear,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tweeted. “Our Director of National Intelligence should be above partisan politics, speak truth to power, and resist Trump’s abuses of authority. John Ratcliffe doesn’t fit that bill.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Coats’ exit “is bad news for the security of America,” and that his successor must “remember that his oath is to protect the Constitution and the American people, not the President.”
A long line of Republicans have already expressed their support for Ratcliffe’s nomination, including Reps. Mark Meadows, Jim Jordan, and Devin Nunes, as well as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Victor@bizpacreview.com
Victor Rantala is an Army vet who lives in Minnesota, he is a former intelligence analyst and business owner, and is an NRA Life member who is officially retired but has yet to slow his roll.
- NJ school teacher yells at students she hopes they die ‘painful death’ from coronavirus for playing at park - April 27, 2020
- Trump’s briefing-alternative included bold counteroffensive: ‘No respect for people running Fox News’ - April 27, 2020
- Candace Owens questions next moves in COVID19 strategy: ‘None of this makes any sense’ - April 26, 2020
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
