BURSTPresident-elect Trump on Wednesday celebrated FBI Director Christopher Wray's planned resignation from the post, calling it a "great day for America" and arguing it would lead to necessary changes at the bureau.
"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 posted on Truth Social. "I just don’t know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans."
Trump bashed Wray over the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 amid an investigation into his handling of classified materials after leaving office. He also blamed the bureau for "illegally impeaching and indicting me," though congressional lawmakers impeached Trump twice and prosecutors in New York, Georgia and at the Justice Department brought charges against him in recent years.
The president-elect touted his choice to lead the bureau, Kash Patel, saying he was "committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon."
"As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, System of Justice," Trump posted. "We want our FBI back, and that will now happen. I look forward to Kash Patel’s confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin."
Wray announced earlier Wednesday at a town hall meeting that he intended to resign from the bureau before Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
“My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day. 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," Wray said.
Trump nominated Patel to lead the FBI, signaling his plans to fire Wray, who he nominated to lead the investigation bureau in 2017 and who would otherwise not finish his term until 2027.
Patel will require confirmation by the Senate, where Republicans will hold a majority in the next Congress, after flipping the upper chamber in last month's election.