The FBI has lost trust from the American people. Donald Trump is furious.
And now the FBI director is waiting for Donald Trump to give him this terrible news.
During the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration, the FBI and the entire Department of Justice lost a ton of trust in the eyes of the American public, largely due to their seemingly politically-motivated attacks on both Donald Trump and conservatives. The FBI raided Donald Trump’s house in Mar-a-Lago and has also persecuted everyday conservatives for simply expressing their political positions.
This has put a real stain on the FBI and now Donald Trump’s second administration is in the unenviable position of trying to rebuild these institutions and the trust that Americans should have that justice is blind and fair. A part of that will be cleaning house as soon as possible.
FBI Director Wray Faces Uncertain Future Under President-Elect Trump
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office, speculation is growing about the future of FBI Director Christopher Wray. According to sources familiar with the matter, Wray is bracing for the possibility that Trump may seek to replace him.
Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 for a ten-year term, initially planned to serve out his full tenure. However, his relationship with the president has been fraught with tension, marked by frequent criticism from Trump. Throughout his campaign, Trump has expressed a desire to “clean house” at the FBI, which he has characterized as an organization filled with “politically motivated and corrupt executives.”
BREAKING: FBI Director Christopher Wray is currently preparing to be fired when President-elect Trump takes office – NBC
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 12, 2024
Tensions escalated in July when Trump publicly demanded that Wray resign “NOW” following Wray’s testimony before Congress. During that testimony, Wray indicated that Trump’s ear injury — sustained during an assassination attempt — might not have been caused by a bullet. The FBI later clarified that a bullet did indeed strike Trump’s ear, adding to the friction between the two.
Despite these challenges, Wray has maintained a positive outlook on his role. In an April interview with NBC News, he stated he was “enjoying doing this job” and expressed his desire to continue as long as he could “do that in a way that adheres to all those rules and norms.”
However, sources suggest that if Trump indeed seeks to remove him, Wray may choose to resign. Among the names being floated as potential successors is Kash Patel, a Trump adviser who is also in consideration for the CIA leadership.
Patel, a former House and National Security Council staffer, held a significant position in the Defense Department during the latter days of Trump’s first administration. Known for his criticism of the Justice Department, Patel’s candidacy for the FBI position would align with Trump’s aim to reshape the agency.
U.S. Attorney General Pick Up In The Air
It is currently unknown who Donald Trump will be picking as the U.S. attorney general, in replacement of Merrick Garland, the AG for the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration. There are many suggested picks, but no clear frontrunner according to sources with Newsmax, the Washington Post, and CNN.
U.S. Senator Mike Lee has been discussed among commentators and Republican insiders as a likely top candidate to fill the attorney general role. Though there is concern among Congressional Republicans that Donald Trump has already selected enough candidates for appointments from sitting congressmen.
The U.S. Attorney General (AG) plays a significant role in overseeing the FBI, although the FBI operates with a degree of autonomy in its investigations. The AG is the head of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and serves as the principal legal advisor to the President and the federal government, with broad responsibilities that include directing federal law enforcement efforts, including the FBI.
The Attorney General is responsible for setting the overall direction of the Department of Justice, which includes the FBI. While the FBI Director (appointed separately by the President) has day-to-day operational control over the FBI, the AG oversees its general activities and policies to ensure they align with the goals and priorities of the federal government.
The goal for Donald Trump and his incoming administration will be to find the balance of oversight between the Department of Justice and the FBI that most agree has been lost during the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
