After a bumpy confirmation hearing, Clayton replaces acting director Bill Pulte to head US intelligence agencies
Jay Clayton has been sworn in as the US’s top spy after a contentious Senate confirmation hearing during which he refused to directly acknowledge that Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.
The oath of office was administered to Clayton on Tuesday by the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, in the Oval Office as the president looked on and applauded. He becomes the ninth director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down in June.
