Trump nominates ex-SEC chair Jay Clayton as intelligence chief

President Trump nominated Jay Clayton, former SEC chairman and current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as director of national intelligence. This move follows reported pressure to reverse course after Trump initially named Bill Pulte to lead the intelligence community in an acting capacity, a selection that drew pushback from lawmakers. The Hill's reporting aligns with corroborating coverage from Reuters, CNBC, and CBS News, all confirming Clayton's nomination and the context of the Pulte controversy, though the provided excerpt doesn't specify the nature of lawmakers' objections to the initial pick. Watch for Senate confirmation proceedings, which will be required for Clayton's permanent appointment, and any further details about why the Pulte selection proved untenable.