Ratcliffe Takes Over CIA, Slams Brennan’s Leadership As A ‘Dark Chapter’

Newly confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe wasted no time in criticizing the agency’s past leadership, calling former CIA Director John Brennan’s tenure “one of the worst things” to happen to the organization. Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence during President Donald Trump’s first term, took aim at Brennan’s role in politicizing intelligence work under the Obama administration.

Speaking shortly after his confirmation and swearing-in by Vice President JD Vance, Ratcliffe pointed to Brennan’s involvement in misleading the public about the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. Brennan, along with other intelligence officials, signed a letter dismissing the laptop as Russian disinformation, a claim that was later debunked and used as evidence in federal investigations.

Ratcliffe accused Brennan and other intelligence figures of prioritizing politics over national security, highlighting how intelligence agencies misused their authority during the 2016 election cycle. He pointed to the FBI’s surveillance of Trump’s campaign and the reliance on faulty intelligence to justify investigations into so-called Russian collusion.

The new CIA director emphasized his commitment to refocusing the agency on its original mission — protecting national security. He criticized Brennan’s efforts to shift priorities toward political and social initiatives, which Ratcliffe believes weakened the agency’s ability to carry out its core responsibilities effectively.

Trump recently took action to revoke the security clearances of Brennan and several other former intelligence officials, a move Ratcliffe fully supports. He stated that those individuals should no longer have access to classified information after using their positions to advance political narratives.

Looking ahead, Ratcliffe said his focus will be on intelligence gathering, covert operations, and protecting national interests without political interference.