President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Tuesday that he intends to nominate former director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A former Republican congressman from Texas, Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the US government’s spy agencies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I hope that John will be the first person to serve in both of our nation’s highest intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement. “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,” he added.
As director of intelligence services, Ratcliffe was criticized by Democrats for declassifying, in the final days of the 2020 presidential election, Russian information with damaging data about Democrats during the 2016 race, although he acknowledged that they may not be true.
Ratcliffe’s visibility increased when he emerged in 2019 as a fervent supporter of Trump during the House of Representatives’ first impeachment process against the incumbent. He was a member of Trump’s impeachment advisory team and vigorously questioned witnesses during the hearings.
He also vigorously questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller when he testified before the House judiciary committee about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Donald Trump had already announced today his intention to appoint former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel. “He loves Israel and the people of Israel and, in the same way, the people of Israel love him,” said the Republican politician in a statement.
Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israel and the announcement of his appointment comes at a time when Trump has promised to more closely align Washington’s foreign policy with the interests of the Israeli government, which is involved in wars against Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon, two Islamic groups supported by Iran.
According to the television channel CNN, the politician and former Baptist pastor has supported Israeli settlements in the West Bank, having even laid the first stone for a new neighborhood in one of the largest settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in 2017. Trump also appointed Bill McGinley, his cabinet secretary in his first administration, as his advisor at the White House.
The Republican tycoon is fielding a steady stream of nominees for his next administration, working so far at a faster pace and without as much drama as his first transition following his 2016 victory.
While awaiting the name that Trump will choose to lead Washington’s diplomacy, the future North American President has declared the reinforcement of his commitment to Israel, but also his desire to end conflicts in the region.
Source: expresso.pt
