Trump Picks Former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as National Intelligence Director
President Trump named former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as his pick for director of national intelligence, per CNBC's June 11 report.
At a glance
- Trump selected former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence, per CNBC on June 11, 2026.
- The announcement followed House Democrats' objections to Bill Pulte as acting chief, per CNBC.
- Per CNBC, the standoff meant a key national security tool would expire that Friday.
VERDICT — CONFIRMED
President Trump named former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as his pick for director of national intelligence, per CNBC's June 11 report.
Per CNBC, the announcement came after House Democrats' objections to Trump's choice of Bill Pulte as acting chief ensured that a key national security tool would expire that Friday. CNBC did not, per the feed, specify the tool at issue, and that detail remains unverified here.
Fox News, Axios and the South China Morning Post carried the nomination the same day. Fox News' headline described Clayton as a former SEC chairman and current U.S. attorney; the SCMP's framing cast the move as tapping Wall Street's top cop as spy chief after the Pulte backlash.
The selection is a nomination, not an installation: the director of national intelligence post requires Senate confirmation, and no confirmation timeline was carried in the reports cited. The circumstances of the Pulte standoff beyond the outlets' accounts remain unverified.
Key facts on file
- Trump selected former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence, per CNBC on June 11, 2026.
- The announcement followed House Democrats' objections to Bill Pulte as acting chief, per CNBC.
- Per CNBC, the standoff meant a key national security tool would expire that Friday.
