WASHINGTON — A confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next director of national intelligence, was abruptly postponed Wednesday after Trump said he was “cancelling it†over political disagreements with Democrats.
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In an early-morning Truth Social post, Trump accused the Senate of moving too fast to hold a confirmation hearing with Clayton, citing his frustration over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that lacks the votes to pass.
Trump also threatened not to sign a bill to revive the expired Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 program — unless it was attached to his SAVE America Act election overhaul.
“Therefore, to add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,†he wrote.
That bill requires 60 votes to pass the Senate, and Republican leaders have repeatedly made it clear it lacks sufficient support.
Regarding “Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,†Trump added. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.â€
Pulte, a housing official, has no experience in national security and is known for investigating Trump's critics with allegations of mortgage fraud. Democrats have slammed his nomination and vowed not to vote to approve the warrantless surveillance power if it's placed in his hands. The program expired Friday.
Trump's unusual demand was initially met with an unusual response from the chair of the Intelligence Committee, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
“Jay Clayton is a pending nominee before the Intelligence Committee,†Cotton wrote on X. “We will proceed with his hearing as scheduled unless the president directs him not to appear or withdraws his nomination.â€
But two hours later, Cotton reversed course and said he was postponing the hearing.
“It's regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today,†Cotton said. “Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly. While today's hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to proceeding with his confirmation in the near future.â€
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., appeared flummoxed when he was asked Wednesday why Trump was issuing such a demand.
“Good question,†Thune said, adding that senators would “have to take it a day at a time until we get more clarity on kind of what the White House position is, I guess.â€
The SAVE America Act is a high priority for Trump. It has passed the House but hit a dead stop in the Senate, lacking sufficient support. It doesn't have 60 votes to break a Democratic-led filibuster. And a recent attempt to attach it to the ICE and Border Patrol funding bill failed 48-50, falling short of even a simple majority, with four Republicans voting against it.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., gently pushed back Tuesday against Trump's calls to tie the SAVE America Act to FISA Section 702.
“No, it doesn't go together naturally,†Cramer said. “I think the thought process is he wants to attach to something that's going to pass. The problem is must-pass legislation is only must-pass until Democrats decide they don't want to pass it. So if the temporary stewardship of DNI by Bill Pulte creates an entire revolt, the SAVE America Act will certainly have the same outcome. And that's why I think John Thune is wise to resist that.â€
Democratic leaders say Trump is harming his own objectives.
“Trump is twisting himself up in knots and jumping through hoops to make it impossible to reauthorize FISA right now, and he is embarrassing his Republican colleagues in the process,†Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday on the floor, wondering why Trump wants Pulte as DNI.
“What exactly will Trump ask Pulte to do?†Schumer said. “Expose intelligence sources, alter analysis, target political opponents, mess with elections.â€
