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John Ratcliffe

John Ratcliffe

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Appears in 3 stories

Born: 1965 (age 60 years), Mount Prospect, IL
Previous offices: United States Director of National Intelligence (2020–2021) and Representative, TX 4th District (2015–2020)
Party: Republican Party
Spouse: Michele Ratcliffe
Education: SMU Dedman School of Law (1989), University of Notre Dame (1987), Southern Methodist University, and more
Descendants: Riley Ratcliffe and Darby Ratcliffe
Office: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Stories

US oil blockade pushes Cuba toward its biggest political test in decades

Force in Play

Led a rare CIA delegation to Havana on May 14 to deliver Trump's conditions for economic engagement amid Cuba's total fuel depletion

The USS Nimitz carrier strike group entered the Caribbean on May 21. The Pentagon was developing military options for Trump while the US intelligence community mapped how Cuba would respond to an attack. One day after issuing a $100 million aid offer and indicting Raúl Castro, Secretary of State Rubio said a negotiated settlement was unlikely.

Updated May 30

The Venezuela raid and congressional war powers

Force in Play

Led diplomatic engagement with Rodriguez government

Congress hasn't declared war since 1942, though presidents have ordered 212 military strikes without formal declarations. On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces raided Venezuela, captured President Nicolás Maduro in his residence, and flew him to New York to face narcoterrorism charges.

Updated May 22

Venezuela's power struggle after Maduro

Force in Play

Met Rodríguez in Caracas on January 16

Seven weeks after U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has consolidated interim power through military loyalty pledges, oil privatization, and prisoner releases. In an NBC interview on February 12, she pledged 'free and fair' elections but refused to set a timeline, conditioning them on Venezuela being 'free from sanctions'.

Updated May 22