Dan Coats To Depart As Director Of National Intelligence

With Meghna Chakrabarti

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats is stepping down, marking the end of a tenure defined by tension with President Trump.

Karoun Demirjian, congressional reporter for the Washington Post focusing on national security. (@karoun)

NPR: "Dan Coats, Who Challenged President Trump, Is Ousted From Top Intelligence Job" — "Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, one of the last remaining survivors of President Trump's original national security team, will leave the administration on August 15, the president said in a tweet on Sunday.

"The president said he will nominate Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to replace him. Axios reports that Trump 'was thrilled by Ratcliffe's admonishment of former special counsel Robert Mueller in last week's House Judiciary Committee hearing.'

"'A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves,' Trump said. He added, 'I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country.'

"Coats, in contrast, doesn't say much in public. But when he has commented, he has often been at odds with the man who appointed him — President Trump."

Stefano Kotsonis produced this segment for broadcast.