President Trump reportedly met last week with Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, about potential replacements for Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
The 45-year-old California congressman met with Trump and top White House officials last week, according to Politico. The group discussed who could take over for Coats, 76, who has served in the role since 2017. The report added further fuel to recent speculation that the president is considering a new director of national intelligence.
Some names have surfaced as potential replacements, including Fred Fleitz, who served as chief of staff to national security adviser John Bolton. Trump reportedly discussed the possibility with Fleitz in February but didn’t officially offer him the job.
Another potential candidate is Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon, a well-liked career intelligence official. There is also speculation among some on Capitol Hill that Nunes himself might be tapped for some sort of intelligence post.
“The president would certainly consider Devin Nunes for the director’s position and I eventually see him serving in some capacity in this administration,” a member of Congress close to Trump said, although he noted that Nunes is currently focused on his 2020 reelection bid.
Coats stoked Trump’s ire after he appeared critical of the president’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview last year. Despite that, Coats, a former Republican senator from Indiana, shares a close relationship with Vice President Mike Pence.
