President-elect Donald Trump designated his former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, to become the director of the CIA.

President-elect Donald Trump has picked his former national intelligence director, John Ratcliffe, to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, selecting a fierce loyalist from his first administration to lead the nation’s intelligence apparatus.

Former Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, has been appointed by Donald Trump to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Trump prai

Ratcliffe served as the nation's top spy from late May 2020 until Trump left office in January 2021. More recently, he was co-chair of the Center for American Security, a think tank advocating Trump positions, and advised the former Republican president on national security policy during his 2024 campaign.

West Palm Beach, Fla. – President-elect Donald Trump moved to build out his national security team Tuesday, announcing he is nominating Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

As director of National Intelligence, Ratcliffe was accused by Democrats and former intelligence officials of declassifying intelligence for use by Trump and his Republican allies to attack political opponents, including Joe Biden, then Trump’s rival for the presidency, a charge Ratcliffe’s office has denied.

President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice Tuesday for CIA Director, tapping his former intelligence chief John Ratcliffe, who he called a "warrior of truth."

The president-elect’s unconventional choices place loyalists in top national security. positions.

President-elect Donald Trump moved to build out his foreign policy team Tuesday, announcing he is nominating Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.