EVIAN-LES-BAINS — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is putting Jay Clayton’s nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community on hold, using the delay as leverage to pressure Congress to pass a voter ID bill that currently does not have enough support.
In a lengthy post on social media, Trump said Bill Pulte will remain acting director of national intelligence for now. Pulte, a senior U.S. housing official, had faced resistance from lawmakers in both parties, who questioned his lack of intelligence experience. That opposition had effectively pushed Trump to turn instead to Clayton.
Clayton had been scheduled to appear before the Senate on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing that was moved up after a key surveillance program lapsed. The hearing had taken on added urgency as frustration mounted in both parties over Trump’s earlier decision to elevate Pulte.
Democrats had said they were prepared to renew the expired surveillance authorities once Trump withdrew Pulte’s nomination. But in his social media post, Trump accused them of backing away from that agreement after he selected Clayton.
Trump also said he does not want to remove Clayton from his current role in the U.S. attorney’s office until a successor, Jamie McDonald, wins approval.
He further raised the stakes by tying his support for renewing the surveillance program to passage of legislation that would require voters to present identification at the polls.
“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,” Trump said, using the acronym for the surveillance program and his name for the voter ID bill.
The Republican-controlled Congress has not acted on the voting bill because it does not have enough support in either chamber, particularly from Democrats.
Trump made the announcement in Evian-les-Bains, France, where he is participating in the final day of the Group of Seven summit of leading industrial economies.
___
Superville reported from Geneva, and Tucker and Jalonick from Washington.
