John Ratcliffe, President Donald Trump’s newly confirmed CIA director, has vowed to restore the agency’s credibility after years of what he describes as political interference under former Director John Brennan. Ratcliffe, who previously served as Director of National Intelligence, took office after a successful Senate confirmation and swearing-in by Vice President JD Vance.

Ratcliffe did not hold back in his assessment of Brennan’s leadership, labeling it as one of the darkest periods in the agency’s history. He pointed to Brennan’s involvement in the widely discredited claim that Hunter Biden’s laptop was part of a Russian disinformation campaign, calling it an example of intelligence being misused for political purposes.

I like this man more already!
Ratcliffe said Brennan was one of the worst things that ever happened to the CIA.

Do you agree with him? (I do!) 😀 pic.twitter.com/i6QxblQGlP

— Croxxed Out (@FLCons) January 23, 2025

During his confirmation hearings, Ratcliffe highlighted broader concerns about intelligence agencies becoming tools for partisan agendas. He argued that the FBI’s use of surveillance authorities against Trump’s campaign in 2016, along with Brennan’s push for politicized intelligence operations, severely eroded public trust.

The Trump administration recently revoked security clearances for Brennan and other former intelligence officials, a move Ratcliffe said was necessary to protect national security from individuals who abused their access to classified information.

Former Obama CIA director John Brennan says Tulsi Gabbard "doesn't have the right perspective" to be Director of National Intelligence.

So let's remind people:

-John Brennan voted for the Communist presidential candidate when in college.
-John Brennan lied under oath to the… pic.twitter.com/xKHfeVIMUq

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 14, 2024

Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff John Brennan running to Jake Tapper – slams Trump’s CIA Director John Ratcliffe for releasing documents CONFIRMING he briefed Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Susan Lice, James Comey on Hillary’s Russia Collusion Hoax:
pic.twitter.com/TeKTjg2bOo

— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) January 22, 2025

Ratcliffe pledged to move the CIA away from the policies implemented under Brennan, which he claimed placed too much focus on social and political issues instead of intelligence operations. He stressed the need to bring the agency back to a merit-based system, where individuals advance based on skill rather than political agendas.

This is a SEPT 29, 2020 Letter from Ratcliffe to Lindsey Graham regarding Brennan, Hillary, and Comey discussing stirring up Russian disinformation focused on Pres Trump to distract from Hillary server. Barr knew about the Russia collusion b.s. while Pres Trump ran for office the… pic.twitter.com/QqCNETz7lr

— Futurist™ (@americasgreat) January 22, 2025

CIA Director, John Ratcliffe’s goal is “restoring the world's most preeminent intelligence agency to its core primary objectives”.

John Brennan created a huge mess that Ratcliffe will have to clean up.

🔗 to article in comments pic.twitter.com/RgFUT4uvdO

— ❥❥❥ᗰoᒪᒪie❥❥❥ (@mollie_don) January 24, 2025

As the CIA enters a new chapter under Ratcliffe’s leadership, the focus will be on strengthening national security efforts and ensuring intelligence remains objective and reliable.