In Washington, President-elect Donald Trump is currently conducting interviews for the position of FBI director, as indicated by the newly elected Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. This marks a clear signal that the upcoming administration is contemplating a change in leadership at the FBI, potentially replacing the current director, Christopher Wray.
Vance previously made a social media post, which he later removed, to explain his absence from a critical Senate vote regarding a judicial nominee from President Joe Biden. He stated that he was meeting with Trump to discuss various government positions, including the role of FBI Director. Vance emphasized in his post that securing an FBI director capable of dismantling what he referred to as the “deep state” was more crucial than the Republicans losing the vote, as it was more important to focus on a long-term strategy rather than a single vote outcome.
The Senate vote in question was on Monday, which confirmed Embry J. Kidd as Biden’s nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Both Vance and several GOP senators were unavailable to participate in the vote, which ended with a count of 49-46.
An official spokesperson for the FBI did not provide any comments on the situation, and there was no immediate response from the Trump transition team regarding the potential change in leadership.
The position of FBI director typically holds a 10-year tenure; however, it would not come as a surprise if Wray is replaced given that Trump has expressed critiques of Wray, whom he appointed around seven years ago. Notably, Trump previously called for Wray’s resignation during the summer after the director expressed support for Biden’s cognitive abilities.
Among Trump’s associates, there is a push for Kash Patel, a loyal supporter of Trump, to take over the position. However, other candidates being considered include Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent and previously the chairman of the House intelligence committee, who recently lost his run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican from Michigan.