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From the Associated Press: The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.
Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA, the nation’s premier spy agency. The Texas Republican is a former federal prosecutor who emerged as a fierce Trump defender while serving as a congressman during Trump’s first impeachment.
The vote was 74-25.
At his Senate hearing last week, Ratcliffe said the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology such as artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China. He said the United States needed to improve its intelligence capabilities while also ensuring the protection of Americans’ civil rights.
Ratcliffe had previously served in the House of Representatives, from 2015 to 2020. He was then tapped to serve as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from May 2020 until January 2021.
JUST IN: John Ratcliffe has been confirmed for CIA director in a 74-25 vote pic.twitter.com/ogDk9woT96
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 23, 2025
CONFIRMED! Congratulations, CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
At Heritage, Director Ratcliffe focused on chairing a project to hold China accountable for COVID-19 and advising Heritage leadership on national security and intelligence policy.
“John Ratcliffe’s broad experience in law… pic.twitter.com/EYilzdadl4
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) January 23, 2025
In a social media post on Monday, Ratcliffe shared a photo of himself walking to Trump’s inauguration ceremony and wrote, “Grateful for the opportunity to serve our 45th/47th President again.”
Grateful for the opportunity to serve our 45th/47th President again. pic.twitter.com/R4eUy2KPDn
— John Ratcliffe (@JohnRatcliffe) January 20, 2025
HERE WE GO:
Senate votes 74-25 to confirm John Ratcliffe as Trump’s CIA Director pic.twitter.com/hwMescJe6y
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 23, 2025
Confirmed ✅
CIA Director John Ratcliffe pic.twitter.com/O71iptCKQ9— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) January 23, 2025
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