Key Facts

• Jay Clayton is President Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence.
• The Senate confirmation hearing for Clayton is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
• Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the hearing would continue unless the president cancels it or withdraws the nomination.
• President Trump tweeted early Wednesday that the hearing was canceled and would wait until James McDonald, his pick for U.S. attorney, was approved.
• Bill Pulte is currently serving as the acting director of national intelligence and is a close ally of the president.
• The White House referred questions about the hearing to President Trump's social media posts.
• The nomination is seen as an attempt to reduce tensions between the White House and Republican senators.
• President Trump connected the confirmation process to other political decisions, including his voting bill.