US President-Elect Donald Trump on Thursday (December 12) hailed what he called was 'a great day for America' after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray said that he will leave office before Trump takes office in January. Wray still has three years left of his 10-year term. Trump has already nominated Indian-origin Kashyap 'Kash' Patel to become the next director of FBI.
Trump took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to welcome Wray's intention to step down and said that him stepping down would mean the 'end of weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice'. Trump further said that with Wray gone, his administration will 'restore Rule of Law for all Americans'.
Trump has had fractious relationship with the FBI under Wray during the last four years of Biden presidency. FBI even raided Trump's properties in connection with the cases against him.
In his post, Trump accused FBI under Wray of targeting innocent Americans. He praised Kash Patel.
Trump's post on X came just hours after Wray decided his intention of stepping down in January.
"After weeks of careful thought, I've decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down. My goal is to keep the focus on our mission -- the indispensable work you're doing on behalf of the American people every day," Wray said as quoted by the CNN.
Trump is gearing up for inauguration of his second term as US president in January. For several weeks now, after winning the election against sitting US Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has been making high-level appointments. Kashyap Patel's nomination is one such appointment.
Trump invites Xi Jinping: Reports
Reports in the US media have said that Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for the inauguration set to take place on January 20. If Xi accepts the invitation, it would represent a major global development as China and the US have been at loggerheads over a number of issues, from politics, Taiwan, trade and more.
After his election victory, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on foreign imports including those from China.