Trump Halts DNI Nomination Amid Legislative Tensions

WHO:

NBC News - William Pulte was slated to begin his role as acting director of national intelligence on Friday.

NBC News - William Pulte is Trump's controversial selection to serve as acting head of intelligence.

ABC News - Sen. Tom Cotton stated that the confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton will continue as planned despite Trump's announcement of cancellation.

Yahoo - Justin Smith confirmed as a federal appeals court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.

CNN - President Trump, Jay Clayton (nominee for director of national intelligence), Jamie McDonald (replacement U.S. attorney), Bill Pulte (acting director of national intelligence), Sen. Tom Cotton (Republican, Arkansas)

NBC News - Democrats, Republicans

WHAT:

CNN - Trump stated, “The Republicans agreed with Dumocrats to remove very fair, and talented, William Pulte, from serving as Acting DNI in return for getting FISA approved by the Dumocrats.”

CNN - Trump mentioned, “Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.”

CNN - Trump stated, “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”

CNN - Trump expressed that the Senate was moving quickly to confirm Jay Clayton, which he viewed as a threat to Pulte's position.

Fox News - William Pulte was slated to begin his role as acting director of national intelligence on Friday.

Yahoo - The Senate voted 48-43 to confirm Justin Smith.

Yahoo - Emil Bove confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

Yahoo - Matthew Schwartz nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

CNN - Trump stated, “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.”

CNN - Trump expressed that the Republicans “agreed with Dumocrats to remove very fair, and talented, William Pulte, from serving as Acting DNI in return for getting FISA approved by the Dumocrats.”

CNN - Trump mentioned, “Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.”

CNN - Trump announced the cancellation of a planned Senate hearing for his DNI nominee Jay Clayton.

Fox News Politics - The hearing for Jay Clayton's nomination is called off until Jamie McDonald is confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

CBS News Politics - Trump is delaying Jay Clayton's nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community.

NY Post - Trump stated he will keep Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

WHERE:

CNN - The Senate hearing was set to take place in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

CNN - The Senate hearing was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

WHY:

NBC News - Trump cited his frustration over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that currently lacks enough support for passage as reasons for delaying Jay Clayton's nomination.

CNN - Trump cited frustration over legislative maneuvering regarding a U.S. surveillance law and the confirmation of Jamie McDonald as reasons for delaying Jay Clayton's nomination.

NBC News - Trump cited frustration over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that currently lacks enough support for passage as reasons for delaying Jay Clayton's nomination.

Yahoo - Smith was Trump's lead attorney in the E. Jean Carroll case, which involved efforts to overturn damages awarded against Trump.

CNN - Trump reiterated his insistence that the extension of the surveillance law be paired with the SAVE America Act.

CNN - Trump expressed frustration over legislative maneuvering regarding a U.S. surveillance law and the confirmation of Jamie McDonald.

NBC News - Trump cited his frustration over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that lacks enough support for passage.

CBS News Politics - Trump is attempting to force Congress to pass a voter ID bill.

HOW:

CNN - Trump communicated his decision to cancel the hearing via a post on Truth Social.

Yahoo - Smith's confirmation follows his representation of Trump in multiple legal matters, including appeals related to the Carroll case.

CNN - Trump communicated his decision via a post on Truth Social, stating he would not allow hearings to proceed until Clayton's replacement is confirmed.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 10:20 UTC)

William Pulte was set to begin his role as acting director of national intelligence, but President Trump announced that the Republicans agreed with the Dumocrats to remove him in exchange for FISA approval. Trump expressed his frustration over the situation, stating that while the Republicans fulfilled their commitment, the Dumocrats broke the deal, and he cited concerns over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill lacking support as reasons for delaying Jay Clayton's nomination. The decision to cancel the hearing was communicated by Trump through a post on Truth Social.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Trump has appointed William Pulte as the acting head of intelligence, a move that has sparked controversy. He announced that Pulte will remain in this position while expressing concern that the Senate is moving quickly to confirm Jay Clayton, which he sees as a threat to Pulte's role. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited his frustration with legislative maneuvering around a U.S. surveillance law and the confirmation of Jamie McDonald as reasons for delaying Clayton's nomination.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 17:53 UTC)

Senator Tom Cotton announced that the confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton will proceed as scheduled, despite President Trump's announcement to cancel it. Meanwhile, William Pulte is set to start his role as acting director of national intelligence on Friday. President Trump expressed his frustration over a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that doesn't have enough support for passage as reasons for delaying Clayton's nomination.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 16:13 UTC)

Justin Smith has been confirmed as a federal appeals court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, following a Senate vote of 48 to 43. Smith, who served as Trump's lead attorney in the E. Jean Carroll case, has been involved in various legal matters for Trump, including appeals related to that case. Additionally, Emil Bove has been confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, while Matthew Schwartz has been nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 14:11 UTC)

Trump announced that the Senate Hearing regarding the Director of National Intelligence is being canceled and will not proceed until Jamie McDonald is approved as U.S. Attorney. He claimed that Republicans made a deal with Democrats to remove William Pulte from his position as Acting DNI in exchange for FISA approval, but now Democrats are threatening to vote against FISA, breaking their end of the agreement. Trump emphasized that he believes the extension of the surveillance law should be linked to the SAVE America Act.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 12:21 UTC)

President Trump has announced the cancellation of a planned Senate hearing for his nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, which was set to take place in Washington, D.C. The hearing will be postponed until Jamie McDonald is confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Trump expressed his frustration over legislative issues, including a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill. He shared his decision on Truth Social, stating that he would not allow the hearings to proceed until Clayton's replacement is confirmed.