CNN chases down GOP senator after hearing Trump creates 'absolute mess'

U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Tom Cotton Chairman (R-AR) speaks on Capitol Hill after announcing his panel still plans to hold a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci

President Donald Trump announced at the G7 Summit that he was "canceling" the confirmation hearing for his nominee for director of national intelligence, which was scheduled for Wednesday. A president can't decide whether or not a congressional hearing is held.

Punchbowl News' Andrew Desiderio reported on Wednesday morning that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is still planning to hold the DNI hearing for Jay Clayton anyway. Cotton is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The only reason he wouldn't hold the hearing is if Trump withdrew the nomination or Clayton didn't show up.

“And then from there on, we'll just have to take it a day at a time until we get more clarity on what the White House position is on this," said Thune.

Desiderio asked Thune why he thought Trump was doing something like this and Thune said, "Good question."

His colleague, Jake Sherman, called it an "absolute mess for Trump/The Hill."

CNN showed footage of reporters chasing after Cotton to ask whether there would be a hearing on Wednesday as planned and if they intended to vote on Clayton. Trump hasn't indicated whether he will withdraw Clayton's name from nomination, but Trump made it clear he was happy to let his "acting DNI Bill Pulte" continue his work without congressional support.

Congressional correspondent Lauren Fox said that congressional officials are just as confused about what is going on as the press seems to be.

Fox asked Cotton whether he'd spoken to Clayton and if he had a comment, but Cotton said he didn't have any comment beyond the statement that the committee released. He then tried to run into the member's elevator but was stalled waiting for it.

"So, you will proceed. Just to be clear, you will proceed with the hearing. And you expect Jay Clayton to be there despite what the president is saying?" reporter Chad Pergram asked as Cotton stood waiting.

"Chad, you have our statement," Cotton said.

"It's about as clear as mud about whether this hearing is going forward," Fox said.

Democratic ranking member of the committee Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said in a statement on Tuesday that Trump's latest social media posts underscore the reality that "the biggest obstacle to resolving these issues has not been Senate Democrats or Senate Republicans. It has been the chaos and confusion coming from the White House."

The goal was to hold the hearing quickly with a vote on Thursday.

From Your Site Articles