Senator Mark Warner of Virginia announced on Sunday, July 19, 2026, that he will vote against President Trump's nominee Jay Clayton for director of national intelligence (DNI). Warner expressed disappointment in Clayton's performance during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week, despite having been previously optimistic about the nominee.

Clayton, who was nominated by President Trump and previously worked at the SEC, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing. Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, said he was disappointed not only with Clayton's responses to his own questions but also those from many of his colleagues.

During the hearing, Democrats repeatedly questioned Clayton about the results of the 2020 election. Although Clayton acknowledged that former President Joe Biden was certified as president and stated he is "not an election denier," he evaded direct questions about who won the 2020 election.

Warner also criticized Clayton's response regarding Gabbard's presence at an FBI search of an elections hub in Fulton County, Georgia, earlier in the year, saying Clayton appeared to be "acting like he didn't understand what Gabbard had done."

Despite the Republican majority on the committee, which is expected to advance Clayton's nomination to the Senate floor, Warner said, "I hope we see the Jay Clayton that I have known and have worked with." He added, "I've known Jay for a long time. I like Jay. I worked well with him when he was at the SEC. But I was bitterly disappointed by his performance in front of my committee."

Warner concluded, "So I will be voting against Jay Clayton," acknowledging the difficult position the committee faces.

Sources