Trump’s Disenchantment With DNI Dan Coats Growing To Breaking Point

on April 19, 2018 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 19: Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats arrives for a closed hearing held by the Defense Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol April 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. The committee was scheduled ... WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 19: Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats arrives for a closed hearing held by the Defense Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol April 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. The committee was scheduled to hear testimony on an intelligence program update and a global threat assessment. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump seems to be turning on another of his Cabinet officials, this time going cold on Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who he has long seen as “not loyal.”

According to a Tuesday Washington Post report, Trump has been asking around about possible replacements.

Coats has publicly undercut the President in statements about foreign affairs, specifically disarmament in North Korea.

Trump has also not forgotten the time Coats was on stage with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell at a security conference last July and reacted to Trump’s decision to have a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in real time: “Okaaaay, that’s going to be special,” Coats said to laughter.

Trump seethed at what he saw as an attempt to embarrass him in front of high-ranking security officials.

The President is also still reportedly angry about Coats’ congressional testimony about the threats facing the nation last month which contradicted many of Trump’s public statements.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Poor Donnie, always dissatisfied with someone. Ever think you might be the problem? Of course not.

  2. I had forgotten that appearance where Coates got laughter at donnie’s expense. It goes to show you how freaked out donnie is about Mueller that he didn’t boot Coates long ago.

  3. Trump seethed at what he saw as an attempt to embarrass him in front of high-ranking security officials.

    tRump doesn’t need help in embarrassing himself in front of anybody. It’s just another case of tRump showing that he doesn’t want competent or respected advisers, instead he demands fawning lackeys. Character and expertise are disqualifying.

  4. Nah …Jared, he needs another job.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

98 more replies

Participants

Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for sysprog Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for go2goal Avatar for princesskaraoke Avatar for gharlane Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for tsp Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for khyber900 Avatar for somethinghappened Avatar for cvonhagel Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for forcryinoutloud Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for filmknight Avatar for jmnly

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: