Trump appoints new CIA director

Trump appoints new CIA director

Updated 01.01 | Published 00.48

share-arrowShare

unsaveSave

expand-left

full screen John Ratcliffe becomes Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP/TT

US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former congressman John Ratcliffe to head the CIA.

Ratcliffe previously served as US national intelligence director during the final months of Trump’s last term. He was previously a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Ratcliffe is seen as a more traditional choice for the role compared to other presumptuous Trump-loyal candidates, AP writes.

Earlier Tuesday night, Trump nominated former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to be the next US ambassador to Israel. He also appointed real estate investor and longtime friend Steven Witkoff as special envoy for the Middle East.

Trump also confirmed the previously tipped appointment of Mike Waltz as national security adviser. Waltz, who last week was re-elected to the House of Representatives, is an ardent Trump supporter. He is described as having a hawkish attitude towards China.

afbl-general-01