While labeling China as a main strategic rival, the nominee also admitted there’s still plenty of room for collaboration. On July 15, Jay Clayton, Trump’s pick for US Director of National Intelligence, told a Senate confirmation hearing that the US and China “continue to cooperate broadly on the world economic stage,” and he believes he can be a “great help” in crafting US economic strategy toward China.
According to reports on July 16, Clayton appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing, fielding questions from lawmakers. As Trump’s nominee, he would not only coordinate the US intelligence community but also weigh in on major policies involving national security, tech, and the economy.
Jay Clayton, nominee for US Director of National Intelligence
When asked about the top threats facing the US, Clayton listed terrorism, drugs, and cartels, while calling Russia, China, and Iran “traditional adversaries.”
This remark quickly drew pushback from some senators. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said he disagreed with putting drug issues ahead of challenges from China and Russia. Clayton clarified he wasn’t ranking threats by importance, just listing key security challenges.
Lawmakers then turned to US economic strategy toward China. Given Clayton’s background in financial regulation and capital markets, they asked if he could contribute in that area.
Clayton responded that the US and China “still cooperate extensively on the world economic stage,” and he believes he can be a “great help” in shaping economic strategy toward both China and Russia.
He added that many national security issues today go beyond traditional military matters, increasingly involving tech, finance, and economic competition.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds also noted that the most pressing national security challenges now span tech and economics, beyond traditional intelligence work, so the intelligence community needs a broader perspective.
Clayton has extensive experience in financial regulation. During Trump’s first term, he served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After leaving that role, he worked at investment firm Apollo Global Management and law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. In 2025, he became the federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, handling one of the most important financial crime cases in the US.