New CIA Director Ratcliffe Targets Brennan’s Legacy, Promises Change

John Ratcliffe, now leading the CIA after his confirmation by the Senate, has signaled a major shift in the agency’s direction. Shortly after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance, Ratcliffe openly criticized the leadership of former CIA Director John Brennan, calling his tenure a troubling period that harmed the agency’s reputation.

Speaking about Brennan’s impact, Ratcliffe pointed to the handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story as a prime example of intelligence being used for political purposes. Brennan and other intelligence officials signed a letter claiming the laptop was part of a Russian disinformation effort, a claim that was later debunked and used in federal investigations.

President Trump recently stripped Brennan and several other former intelligence officials of their security clearances, a move that Ratcliffe said was necessary to prevent further misuse of classified information by politically motivated individuals.

Under his leadership, Ratcliffe plans to steer the agency away from politically driven policies and focus on strengthening intelligence-gathering capabilities. He stressed the importance of keeping intelligence free from outside influence and returning the agency to its core objectives.

Ratcliffe has also pointed to several international challenges that the agency must address, including threats from China and Iran, which he says require a renewed focus on national security efforts.