Trump Confirms John Ratcliffe Is New Director Of National Intelligence

John Ratcliffe (R-TX), a right-wing member of the House of Representatives and pro-Trump loyalist, has been appointed Director of National Intelligence (DNI) by president Donald Trump.

Trump, who announced Ratcliffe’s appointment in a tweet Sunday, will take over as DNI on August 15. He replaces Dan Coats, a former Republican senator from Indiana, who began serving as DNI in March 2017. Coats frequently clashed with Trump on matters of national security, asserting Russia was actively involved in getting Trump elected president. Trump has always denied this.

Trump’s animosity towards Coats and the United States Intelligence Community (USIC) in general is well-known. At Helsinki last year, Trump accepted Russian president Vladimir Putin’s denial Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election.

"My people came to me -- Dan Coats came to me, some others -- they said they think it's Russia," said Trump in defense of Putin and Russia. "I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be."

Coats issued a statement later that day on behalf of USIC repudiating Trump’s statement.

"We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective evidence in support of our national security," said Coats.

The latest of Trump’s run-ins with USIC took place last January when Trump berated the heads of USIC for affirming Iran was complying with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the Iran nuclear deal.

"When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different … Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!"

Trump’s disagreements with USIC still raises questions as to where Trump’s true loyalties lie. Some in the intelligence community have gone so far as to say in public Trump exhibits all the signs of being a Russian asset, or a person who wittingly does the bidding of the Russian intelligence services such as the FSB and GRU.

Trump revealed none of his animosity towards Coats in a tweet announcing the latter’s departure, however.

"I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country," tweeted Trump. "The Acting Director will be named shortly."

"I have ensured that we have the capabilities necessary to protect against those who would do us harm," wrote Coats in his resignation letter. "I believe it is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life."

Insiders said that within USIC, Coats “is considered to be a capable, candid, and non-partisan leader who takes his work coordinating IC resources seriously as well as someone who has brought stability to the IC," according to a source quoted by CNN.

Ratcliffe, Coats’ replacement, has been blasted by Democrats for being a “blindly loyal” yes-man to Trump.

During last week’s Congressional questioning of former special counsel Robert Mueller, Ratcliffe drew the attention for his incessant attacks on Mueller and his defense of the president. A few days later, Ratcliffe’s name was mentioned as being among frontrunners for DNI.

Of Ratcliffe’s interrogation of Mueller, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said: “It’s clear that Rep. Ratcliffe was selected because he exhibited blind loyalty to President Trump.

“He showed this with his demagogic questioning of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller.”

Conservative policy advocacy organization Heritage Action ranked Ratcliffe as the most conservative Texas legislator in Congress and second-most conservative legislator in the country during the 114th Congress that ended in 2016.