President Donald J. Trump has announced that the congressman for Texas' 4th Congressional District, Rep. John Ratcliffe, will be his nominee for Director of National Intelligence.
Ratcliffe has been widely expected to be in the running for several positions within the Trump administration, and he was previously on the shortlist for U.S. Attorney General.
The former mayor Heath, Texas and former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas has had a busy few weeks after receiving rave reviews from conservative columnists for his performance during the two House committee appearances of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller."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," President Trump said in a Tweet. "A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the country he loves."
President Trump added: "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."
Coats was widely said to have drawn the ire of President Trump, and his departure was widely expected by Washington insiders.
Rep. Ratcliffe has been a very pro-Trump advocate on television, and he appeared on Fox Business this morning making a very vigorous defense of the president.
The congressman is also a very close friend of former Rep. Trey Gowdy.
