President Donald Trump is reportedly expected to give Defense Secretary Mark Esper, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and CIA Director Gina Haspel the ax right after Election Day on November 3 if he defeats Democratic rival Joe Biden.
According to Axios, Wray is number one on Trump’s chopping block. The Washington Post reported last week that the President had been discussing Wray’s potential ouster due to the fact the FBI director had failed to supply Trump’s campaign a boost by not pursuing an investigation into Biden.
Haspel is widely distrusted by Trump’s allies, Axios reported. And the President is reportedly angry that the CIA director has obstructed Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe’s efforts to declassify unverified Russian intelligence that aims to delegitimize the U.S. intel community’s findings that Russia had attempted to hack the 2016 election. Trump has publicly attacked intelligence officials, particularly Wray, for revealing Russia’s efforts to boost the President.
And Esper reportedly drew Trump’s ire when he refused to send troops over to cities where anti-police brutality demonstrators were protesting during the summer.
White House spokesperson Judd Deere declined to confirm or deny Axios’ report.
“We have no personnel announcements at this time nor would it be appropriate to speculate about changes after the election or in a 2nd term,” Deere said in a statement.
