Coverage dated July 15, 2026 to July 16, 2026

Trump's DNI pick Jay Clayton refuses to answer on who won the 2020 election

Headline from CBS News, on the newest of 2 developments

President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, refused to answer who won the 2020 presidential election during a confirmation hearing. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump is expected to make a primetime speech Thursday night. CBS News' Aaron Navarro has more.

CBS News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Trump's pick for intelligence head emphasizes security experience as Democrats press on elections

    Headline from WMUR ·

  2. Newest

    Trump's DNI pick Jay Clayton refuses to answer on who won the 2020 election

    Headline from CBS News ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

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Reports & sources

44 articles, oldest first.

  1. Winchester Star

    Senate to hold hearing for Trump's pick to head intelligence agencies after weekslong delay (opens Winchester Star)

    Published

    Winchester Star's feed description

    Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies, will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearing Wednesday comes weeks after Trump abruptly delayed his nomination. Republicans and even some Democrats have been eager to quickly…

  2. NBC News

    Nominee for top intel post faces lawmakers eager to see him replace the current leader (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing comes amid growing concern among Democrats that the Trump administration will try to use the intelligence agencies to interfere with the midterm elections.

  3. Triblive

    Trump’s pick for intelligence head emphasizes security experience as Democrats press on elections (opens Triblive)

    Published

    Triblive's feed description

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies is emphasizing his experience in government and national security issues as he testifies before the Senate on Wednesday, distinguishing himself from the interim director who has drawn criticism from both Republican…

  4. Jezebel

    Yet Another Trump Appointee Refuses to Answer the Question: “Who Won the 2020 Election?” (opens Jezebel)

    Published

    Jezebel's feed description

    Jay Clayton, who would be the next national U.S. intelligence chief, flat-out refused to answer to the Senate who won the 2020 election.

  5. The New Republic

    Trump Intel Pick Ties Himself in Knots to Avoid Saying Who Won in 2020 (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Six years later, Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential election conspiracy is still going strong. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday, Trump’s pick to run National Intelligence—Jay Clayton—refused to plainly acknowledge who won the 2020 election, admitting o…

  6. The Guardian

    Trump intelligence pick Jay Clayton refuses to say Biden won 2020 election (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Clayton, if confirmed, would replace Bill Pulte, and is facing senators for confirmation as the US’s top spy Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the southern district of New York, refused to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 election during his Wednesday confirmation hearing to become the nation’s next i…

  7. Forbes

    Trump’s Intel Nominee Jay Clayton Won’t Say Biden Won, But Insists He’s ‘Not An Election Denier’ (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    Clayton testified before the Senate Intelligence committee Wednesday as part of his confirmation hearings as Trump’s new director of national intelligence.

  8. CBS News

    Trump's intelligence head pick Jay Clayton gives opening statement at Senate committee hearing (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, addressed the Senate Intelligence Committee before his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

  9. 11Alive Atlanta

    Ossoff questions DNI nominee on 2020 election, Gabbard's role in Fulton County raid (opens 11Alive Atlanta)

    Published

    11Alive Atlanta's feed description

    Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia had a contentious back-and-forth Wednesday during the confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton.

  10. The New Republic

    Trump Intel Pick Says He Only Learned of Key Investigation Yesterday (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Answers given by Jay Clayton, Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, in his Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday suggest that, if confirmed, he would be a pawn in the president’s election-meddling pursuits in the vein of former DNI Tulsi Gabbard.

  11. CBS News

    Jay Clayton scolded during hearing for lack of preparation on Gabbard role in Georgia election probe (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff questioned President Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, about who he believed won the 2020 presidential election. Ossoff also brought up Tulsi Gabbard's highly scrutinized presence at an FBI raid on an elections office in Fulton Cou…

  12. CBS News

    Heinrich presses Trump nominee Jay Clayton on the release of personal information of Epstein victims (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich questioned President Trump's nominee to be director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, during a Senate panel confirmation hearing about the release of Jeffrey Epstein victims' personal information when he worked as U.S.

  13. New Hampshire Union Leader

    'Certified,' not elected - Trump spy nominee Clayton won't say Biden won in 2020 (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)

    Published

    New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description

    President Donald Trump's nominee to be the top U.S. spy, Jay Clayton, refused on Wednesday to directly acknowledge that the Republican president lost the 2020 election despite repeated questioning by Democrats in a tense Senate confirmation hearing.

  14. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Trump's intelligence nominee clashes with Democrats over 2020 election (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies is struggling to win Democratic support

  15. Newsweek

    Trump's Intel Pick Jay Clayton Sows Doubt Over Biden's 2020 Election Win (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Clayton clashed with Senators Ossoff and King over the 2020 election during his Intelligence Committeee confirmaton hearing.

  16. Washington Times

    DNI nominee Jay Clayton sheds Democrats' support by not saying Biden won 2020 election (opens Washington Times)

    Published

    Washington Times's feed description

    Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton appears headed for a partisan confirmation vote after refusing to say during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that Joseph R. Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

  17. Al Jazeera

    US intelligence director pick refuses to acknowledge Trump loss in 2020 (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Jay Clayton, often in circuitous fashion, avoided saying Joe Biden won 2020 race during his confirmation hearing.

  18. Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    Trump spy nominee Jay Clayton refuses to say Biden won 2020 election (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

    Published

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description

    WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the top U.S. spy, Jay Clayton, refused today to directly acknowledge that the Republican president lost the 2020 election despite repeated questioning by Democrats in his Senate confirmation hearing.

  19. Washington Examiner

    Trump DNI pick Jay Clayton struggles with election questions during confirmation hearing (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, faced a grilling from multiple senators about past claims of election fraud during a tense confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.

  20. The Hill

    Ossoff presses Clayton on who won 2020 election (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), the most vulnerable Senate Democrat up for reelection this year, took Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, to task over the administration's focus on debunked claims that the 2020 elections were fraudulent.

  21. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Trump's intelligence nominee Jay Clayton clashes with Democrats over 2020 election (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies is struggling to win Democratic support

  22. PoliticusUSA

    Sen. Jon Ossoff Destroys Trump DNI Pick Jay Clayton With One Question (opens PoliticusUSA)

    Published

    PoliticusUSA's feed description

    Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) asked Trump's DNI nominee, Jay Clayton, who won the 2020 election, and Clayton sat in silence, afraid to answer.

  23. Fox5 Atlanta

    Ossoff presses Trump intelligence nominee: 'Who won the 2020 election?' (opens Fox5 Atlanta)

    Published

    Fox5 Atlanta's feed description

    U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff aggressively questioned President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence during a tense committee hearing over the 2020 election results and a recent federal raid in Georgia. Capitol Hill confrontation The U.S.

  24. Deseret News

    Senate grills Trump’s national intelligence nominee ahead of confirmation vote (opens Deseret News)

    Published

    Deseret News's feed description

    The man President Donald Trump has nominated to lead director of National Intelligence faced repeated questions Wednesday over his views on the 2020 presidential election. And nominee Jay Clayton repeatedly answered Democratic senators in a way that did not satisfy them.

  25. PBS NewsHour

    Trump's intelligence nominee refuses to say who won 2020 election (opens PBS NewsHour)

    Published

    PBS NewsHour's feed description

    Jay Clayton appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing to become director of national intelligence. The job is largely focused on foreign threats and national security, but much of the hearing focused instead on the recent past.

Showing the first 25 of 31 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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