Intelligence Nominee Clayton Says He Could Aid U.S. Economic Strategy With China

Jay Clayton, the United States’ nominee for director of national intelligence, told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on July 15 that he could be “extremely helpful” in shaping economic strategy with China. Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said the U.S. can still work together “on the world stage economically” with Beijing despite geopolitical challenges.

Clayton listed terrorism first, followed by drug trafficking, fentanyl and cartels. He added “lastly, I would say our traditional adversaries,” naming Russia, China and Iran. He later clarified that he did not rank the threats in order.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, said he strongly disagreed with any suggestion that drug trafficking ranked above the threat posed by China or Russia.