Trump Names John Ratcliffe To Lead CIA | EUROtoday

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump introduced Tuesday that he’s nominating former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to steer the Central Intelligence Agency. He additionally mentioned he had chosen former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and his longtime good friend Steven Witkoff to be a particular envoy to the Middle East.

In a flurry of bulletins, Trump additionally named Bill McGinley, his Cabinet secretary in his first administration, as his White House counsel.

Trump is rolling out a gradual stream of appointees and nominees for his upcoming administration, working so far at a sooner tempo and with out as a lot drama as his first transition following his 2016 victory.

A former Republican congressman from Texas, Ratcliffe served as director of nationwide intelligence for the ultimate yr and a half of Trump’s first time period, main the U.S. authorities’s spy businesses through the coronavirus pandemic. He is a extra conventional choose for the position, which requires Senate affirmation, than some rumored loyalists pushed by a few of Trump’s supporters.

Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel, and his supposed nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. overseas coverage extra carefully with Israel’s pursuits because it wages wars in opposition to Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Witkoff is a Florida actual property investor who’s serving as a chair of Trump’s inaugural committee. He additionally hung out on the planet of New York actual property, the place Trump first made his mark as a public determine.

As intelligence director, he was criticized by Democrats for declassifying within the remaining days of the 2020 presidential election Russian intelligence alleging damaging details about Democrats through the 2016 race though he acknowledged it won’t be true.

Ratcliffe’s visibility rose as he emerged in 2019 as an ardent defender of Trump through the House’s first impeachment proceedings in opposition to him. He was a member of Trump’s impeachment advisory workforce and strenuously questioned witnesses through the impeachment hearings.

After the Democratic-controlled House voted to question Trump, Ratcliffe mentioned: “This is the thinnest, fastest and weakest impeachment our country has ever seen.” He additionally forcefully questioned former particular counsel Robert Mueller when he testified earlier than the House Judiciary Committee about his investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 election.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump mentioned in an announcement. “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.”

Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, regularly promoting the journeys on conservative-leaning information shops.

“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years,” Trump mentioned in an announcement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”

David Friedman, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Israel in his first time period, mentioned he was “thrilled” by Trump’s choice of Huckabee.

Witkoff can be the president-elect’s golf companion and was with him when he was the goal of a second assassination try at his golf membership in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September.

Trump’s transition workforce didn’t supply particulars in regards to the Middle East envoy position, however Trump, in an announcement mentioned, “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud.”

The choice of Witkoff follows a sample for Trump in placing individuals near him in pivotal roles on the Middle East portfolio. Eight years in the past he appointed his former company lawyer Jason Greenbaltt as his particular consultant for worldwide negotiations and relied on his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as his private envoy in talks within the area.