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Patel, who has held several senior positions in the administration, was appointed Miller’s chief of staff days after the general election and is widely regarded as a Trump loyalist.
Captured by a Washington Post photographer, the images prompted immediate questions about Trump’s latest decisions as president. But according to two administration officials, Trump has already discussed with others the idea of installing Patel as acting director of the CIA.
Trump has been on the verge of firing CIA Director Gina Haspel multiple times to be removed from the abyss, multiple sources have previously told CNN. In December, he and others concocted a plan to end Haspel and put Patel in charge of the CIA. Several options were discussed, including the firing of Haspel’s deputy Vaughn Bishop and his replacement by Patel, which they said would force Haspel to resign, as well as the firing of the two and the appointment of Patel as interim manager.
But sources told CNN that the president backed away from the idea after aides convinced him that sacking Haspel with only a few weeks remaining in his presidency was counterproductive.
While it is not immediately clear whether the president discussed the issue of CIA leadership with Lindell during his visit to the White House on Friday, his mention in Lindell’s notes renewed speculation that the issue did. is not irrelevant.
A few weeks ago, Trump was considering a broader Cabinet reshuffle after losing his reelection, the sources said.
Miller was appointed to the top defense post a few days after the election. He and Patel had worked together on counterterrorism issues in the National Security Council earlier in Trump’s tenure.
If the idea is truly contemplated within days of Trump’s tenure, trying to put Patel in charge of the country’s preeminent intelligence service would require enormous last-minute bureaucratic gymnastics. Current and former officials have said not only should Haspel be ousted, but his deputy Bishop should be ousted as well.
When asked if it was possible for Trump to make such a significant change in a few days, a senior administration official said: “Frankly, there is a lack of people who would even know how to implement these changes. no one there. do the paperwork, which is quite complicated for unorthodox staff moves. “
Lindell confirmed to CNN’s Jim Acosta that he met Trump for about five minutes on Friday and said he tried to hand over to the president what he described as evidence of voter fraud. Acosta conducted a brief interview with Lindell, who didn’t substantiate any of his claims, but simply repeated some of the same bogus conspiracy theories that Trump has launched since the election.
Lindell said Trump told him to turn his documents over to lawyers working in the White House, who would review them.
When asked if he thinks Democrat Joe Biden won the presidential election, Lindell said no.
“No, he didn’t win the election, because I saw him,” Lindell said.
Patel did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. The CIA, the Pentagon, the White House and the National Security Council also did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests.
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