While the Senate had planned to confirm Jay Clayton as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as soon as Wednesday, President Donald Trump derailed those plans overnight after announcing he was “cancelling” the confirmation hearing, thereby creating a “disaster” and “living hell” for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), some journalists said.
“It’s almost as if Trump wakes up every day and thinks to himself, ‘How can I make John Thune’s life a living hell?’” noted Punchbowl News senior congressional reporter Andrew Desiderio in a social media post on X.
In an early morning statement published Wednesday on Truth Social, Trump said he would be keeping Bill Pulte – his initial controversial pick for DNI he ultimately backed off from after receiving unprecedented bipartisan backlash – as acting DNI for the foreseeable future. He also demanded that the SAVE Act – his controversial voter ID law – be attached to the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that permits the overseas surveillance of Americans in some instances.
“It's almost as if this was going too well for Trump,” noted Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman in a social media post on X. “Republicans and Democrats were gearing up to confirm Clayton as soon as tomorrow.”
Trump also raged against Republicans regarding several other topics, including their refusal to eliminate the filibuster and blue slips, a process that allows senators to block judicial appointments in their own state.
“Trump is attacking [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune (R-SD) and top Senate Republicans – without naming them – over the Clayton-Pulte dispute,” Punchbowl News’ report reads.
“He’s putting pressure on Thune once again over eliminating the filibuster and blue slips for judicial nominations, two hallowed Senate traditions. He’s forcing the SAVE America Act – the Republicans’ photo ID and proof-of-citizenship bill – to the forefront of the Senate legislative agenda, even though there’s no way it can pass. All this is a disaster for Thune.”
It’s almost as if Trump wakes up every day and thinks to himself, “How can I make John Thune’s life a living hell?”
The president just blew up Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing for DNI (was slated for 2pm today) & reiterated his demand for SAVE to be attached to FISA. pic.twitter.com/YVSRvYFpnc
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 17, 2026