U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Tom Cotton Chairman (R-AK) speaks on Capitol Hill after announcing his panel still plans to hold a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of national intelligence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump canceled Jay Clayton's Director of National Intelligence confirmation hearing via a Truth Social post Wednesday morning. But Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-AR) signaled Republicans will proceed regardless.
Clayton was nominated to succeed Tulsi Gabbard after bipartisan pressure forced Trump to abandon Bill Pulte, a partisan loyalist without intelligence credentials, as acting DNI. In a social media post on X, Cotton stated the hearing will continue "unless the president directs him not to appear or withdraws his nomination." He also noted, Trump's social media post lacks formal authority.
According to Punchbowl News' Laura Weiss, Trump delayed Clayton's hearing to prioritize confirming Jamie McDonald as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, though the White House hasn't officially submitted McDonald's nomination to the Senate.
Experts fear Pulte could dangerously abuse national security powers given his history of weaponizing federal authority against Trump critics.
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