John Ratcliffe’s nomination as CIA director may not have the headline appeal of Pete Hegseth or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but it’s the most consequential confirmation hearing happening right now. With the intelligence community in shambles after years of botched decisions under Biden, Ratcliffe is exactly the leader needed to steer the CIA back to its core mission—protecting America, not playing politics.
NEW: President Trump announces the nomination of @JohnRatcliffe as Director of the CIA. pic.twitter.com/RDjvlhyohl
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 12, 2024
Ratcliffe’s track record speaks for itself. During his tenure as Director of National Intelligence, he boldly declared China the top national security threat to the U.S., penning an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled, “China Is National Security Threat No. 1.” While the left fretted about Russian trolls on Facebook, Ratcliffe was already ahead of the curve, warning about China’s efforts to interfere in U.S. elections and undermine global stability. That kind of foresight is exactly what’s been missing in the intelligence community.
Under Biden, U.S. intelligence agencies failed spectacularly, most notably during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. The CIA predicted the Taliban would take over in six months to two years. Instead, the Afghan government fell in just over a week. This wasn’t just a blunder—it was a complete intelligence collapse that cost American lives. The CIA’s diminishing human intelligence capabilities have been glaringly obvious, and Ratcliffe is the right man to rebuild what Biden’s administration allowed to erode.
Beyond Afghanistan, Ratcliffe’s appointment is vital in countering China’s growing influence. Alex Gray, a former National Security Council chief of staff, praised Ratcliffe’s hawkish stance on Beijing, calling him “unabashed” about identifying China as the biggest threat. With Ratcliffe at the helm, the CIA would finally refocus on real adversaries rather than pandering to the Beltway bureaucracy.
Democrats, predictably, are gearing up to make this confirmation hearing a circus. Virginia Senator Mark Warner is already wringing his hands about whether Ratcliffe will fire politically biased CIA employees. Newsflash: the CIA isn’t supposed to be a partisan playground. Cleaning house is long overdue. And if firing leftist bureaucrats who think they’re part of “the resistance” is what it takes to restore trust in the intelligence community, so be it.
Ratcliffe’s confirmation is a pivotal moment for America’s national security. Trump’s overwhelming 2024 victory left no doubt that the American people are tired of politics taking precedence over their safety. The Democrats’ attempts to politicize this hearing will fail because Ratcliffe’s qualifications are undeniable. He’s trusted by Trump, respected by intelligence professionals, and feared by America’s enemies—exactly the combination needed to clean up the mess Biden left behind.
During a rapid-fire Q&A with Sen. King, Ratcliffe says he will not impose a “political litmus test” for CIA employees if confirmed as director.
King: Will you or any of your staff impose a political litmus test for CIA employees.
Ratcliffe: No.
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) January 15, 2025
The left’s obsession with undermining Trump’s appointments has become a pathetic spectacle. While they pontificate about “politicized intelligence,” Americans can rest assured that Ratcliffe’s focus will be where it belongs: protecting the nation from real threats like China, not indulging in partisan theatrics. With Ratcliffe in charge, the CIA will finally get back to doing its job.
