Donald Trump replaced his intelligence chief on Thursday as reports emerged that the US president was furious with the official over a briefing given to lawmakers about Russian interference in the 2020 election campaign. Mr Trump reportedly erupted in anger at acting director of national intelligence (DNI) Joseph Maguire when he learned of the February 13 session with the House Intelligence Committee. It wasn’t immediately clear if Mr Trump had objected to a specific element of the talk, in which Maguire aide Shelby Pierson reportedly told lawmakers Russia was once again meddling in the US election on Mr Trump’s behalf. But the president was annoyed by the presence of Adam Schiff, the Democratic head of the investigation that led to Mr Trump being impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, according to The New York Times. Mr Maguire had been a favourite to be nominated for the permanent DNI post but Mr Trump soured on the official, The Washington Post said, when he heard about the classified election security briefing.
