Trump May Abandon Jay Clayton as DNI Pick After Republican Backlash

—President Trump is reportedly reconsidering his nomination of former SEC Chair Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence after even Republican senators signaled opposition to the choice. Clayton, who has no intelligence background, was seen as a surprise pick that lacks the trust of the intelligence community. Democrats have been leading a public revolt against the nomination, but GOP dissent has been the more damaging development. Trump had earlier struggled to fill the DNI post after Tulsi Gabbard's departure, leaving the office in an acting-director limbo for months. A withdrawal of the Clayton nomination would be an embarrassing reversal that underscores the White House's difficulty staffing key national security roles.