President Donald Trump nominated former SEC chair Jay Clayton for director of National Intelligence on Thursday, setting up a high-stakes Senate confirmation after bipartisan blowback over Trump’s earlier DNI pick of Bill Pulte.
President Donald Trump nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Jay Clayton for the position of director of National Intelligence on Thursday, a move that lands in the middle of a bitter fight over the administration’s national security choices.
Trump’s decision comes after his nomination of Bill Pulte. a top federal housing official. sparked bipartisan controversy soon after the president announced Pulte would lead the DNI. That backlash unfolded as the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced her resignation following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
Clayton currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. If confirmed, Clayton would replace Gabbard.
Trump framed the nomination as a credibility play. When he made the announcement. the president called Clayton “very Highly Respected.” In a post on Truth Social. Trump wrote. “Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. ” adding. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”.
The nomination also creates a new deadline clock for Republicans and Democrats alike: whether the Senate can move quickly on Clayton while the earlier Pulte controversy still hangs over the role.
Democrats attacked the Pulte pick from the start, arguing it signaled reckless disregard for intelligence priorities. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. D-N.Y. called the selection “another indication of how unserious. reckless. and dangerous” the administration has been on national security matters.
Jeffries said, “Bill Pulte is willing to say anything or do anything that Donald Trump demands, no matter how reckless, vengeful, or unlawful Donald Trump’s demand may be,” and accused Pulte of “weaponiz[ing] the federal government to go after Donald Trump’s perceived enemies.”
In the Senate, the criticism was bipartisan. On X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., labeled Pulte “a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence” and argued the appointment would make the country less safe.
Senate Republicans also questioned whether Pulte belonged in the job. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the country needs experienced intelligence professionals in the role, telling reporters, “We don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said nothing in Pulte’s resume would qualify him for the position. Cornyn recently lost his primary election to Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
With Clayton now nominated, Senate leaders signaled they are inclined to move—but they did not promise a smooth, fast outcome.
Thune told reporters that Clayton has a “great reputation” and said Senate Republican leadership would work to get him confirmed. “as quickly as possible.” When asked whether there was a realistic chance to confirm Clayton before Pulte becomes acting DNI. Thune replied. “I don’t know what realistic is. but we’re going to probe the limits of it.”.
Sen. Mark Warner. D-Va. said he has “great respect for Jay Clayton.” But he questioned the timing of Trump’s decision. telling reporters. “Why he waited until after the House broke. I have no idea. ” and adding. “If there was any level of serious concern about this in the White House. the House has already left town.”.
The immediate contrast between the two nominations is clear in the politics of the confirmation process: one pick drew months of worry from both parties about intelligence experience. while the other is arriving with a promise of professional respect—offered directly by Trump and tested by how quickly the Senate chooses to act.
Trump Jay Clayton Director of National Intelligence DNI Tulsi Gabbard Bill Pulte SEC Senate confirmation Hakeem Jeffries Chuck Schumer John Thune John Cornyn Mark Warner
Wait so is this the housing guy or a finance guy? I’m lost.
Trump really just keeps swapping people into the intelligence role like it’s a revolving door. Tulsi Gabbard resigns and now it’s some SEC guy?? That seems backwards to me.
The article says Clayton would replace Gabbard, but didn’t Gabbard resign because of her husband’s cancer? So like… this is a totally normal move right? Doesn’t feel normal though, also I heard Bill Pulte was the one who mattered? idk.
Bipartisan blowback is doing a lot of work here. If Republicans are mad at Pulte still, they’ll never confirm Clayton “quickly” like Trump wants. Also I don’t trust any “highly respected” lawyer for DNI, sounds like a PR move more than security.