During his first term, Donald Trump famously fired James Comey, the FBI director, in early 2017. After that, he appointed Christopher Wray to a ten-year term to lead the FBI. Wray has been in office ever since, leading the FBI through such matters as the January 6 investigations and the various federal investigations into Trump himself.
Despite Wray being a Trump appointee, as — like FBI director in history — a Republican, Trump loyalists have tended to see him, over the last seven years, as a part of the “deep state,” and an obstruction in Trump’s way. Steve Bannon, in 2020, appeared to call for both Wray and Anthony Fauci to be beheaded, declaring “I’d put the heads on pikes, right. I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats: ‘You either get with the program or you’re gone — time to stop playing games.'”
President-elect Donald Trump reacted to Christopher Wray’s announcement that he is resigning as FBI director with a statement railing against Wray, saying, “The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America.”
Read more: https://t.co/M5Ba1GEnA1 pic.twitter.com/tVlUjmAyAF
— ABC News (@ABC) December 11, 2024
Earlier this month, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) appeared to taunt Wray, stating, “Remain close to DC. Your presence will be commanded. Repeatedly… may visions of the thousands of American J6 families you’ve destroyed dance through your head. Merry Christmas. Higgins out.”
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Trump has already announced his attention to name Kash Patel as director of the FBI, indicating that he planned to fire Wray, just as he had Comey. However, Wray announced Wednesday that he will resign at the end of the Biden presidency.
“My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told said Wednesday in a speech to FBI employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.”
Trump expressed his delight at the news.
“The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice,” Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday. He added that Wray had been in charge at the FBI during the raid on Mar-a-Lago, which led to Trump’s now-dismissed indictment in the federal documents case.
“I look forward to Kash Patel’s confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin,” he added.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
