- President Donald Trump abruptly canceled the confirmation hearings for Jay Clayton to become the Director of National Intelligence, attributing the decision to both Republican and Democratic senators.
- Trump criticized Republicans for agreeing with Democrats to remove Bill Pulte as acting DNI, despite Republicans' own objections to Pulte's lack of intelligence experience.
- The president stated he would not allow Clayton to leave his current role as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York until Jamie McDonald, his nominee to replace Clayton, was approved, citing the 'blue slip' process as an obstacle.
- Trump further complicated matters by linking the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to the passage of the SAVE America Act, a Republican proposal requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. “Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap,” he wrote. “Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney. In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
- The cancellation of Clayton's hearing means that Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence, effectively derailing what was anticipated to be a straightforward confirmation process.
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