Trump announces spy chief nominee

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would nominate Representative John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican, to replace Dan Coats as the U.S. spy chief.

Coats, the current U.S. director of national intelligence who has clashed with Trump over assessments involving Russia, Iran and North Korea, will step down on August 15, the president said as he announced his decision on Twitter.

"John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves," the U.S. leader said, thanking Coats "for his great service to our Country" and saying an acting director will be named shortly.

Dan Coats has served as director of national intelligence since March 2017.

The post of director of national intelligence, created after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, oversees the 17 U.S. civilian and military intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, Reuters recalls.