Trump delays Clayton nomination for intelligence chief

U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton to lead the country’s intelligence agencies, disrupting a Senate confirmation process that had bipartisan support. The move, announced in a social media post during the G7 summit, also complicated efforts to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a surveillance authority used to monitor communications of targeted foreigners outside the United States. Senate Republicans said they were unsure how the White House wanted to proceed, while Democrats criticized the decision as political turmoil that was interfering with national security policy. Trump said he supports temporary intelligence chief Bill Pulte, even as lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about his lack of national security experience.