WASHINGTON (1010 WINS/AP) — President Trump says Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats is stepping down and that he is nominating Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas for the job.
"A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves," Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon.
Trump said Coats will be departing the position on Aug. 15.
U.S. officials told the Associated Press that Coats was expected to resign in days, after a two-year tenure marked by Trump's clashes with intelligence officials.
Three U.S. officials on Sunday confirmed the top intelligence official's impending resignation on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
Coats frequently appeared out of step with Trump and disclosed to prosecutors how he was urged by the president to publicly deny any link between Russia and the Trump campaign. The frayed relationship reflected broader divisions between the president and the government's intelligence agencies.
Trump had been expected to nominate Ratcliffe to the post. The Texas Republican is a frequent Trump defender who questioned special counsel Robert Mueller last week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.