Former U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Devin Nunes, CEO of Truth Social and former congressman, as the chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). Nunes, a staunch Trump ally, will continue to lead Truth Social while overseeing the intelligence advisory panel.
Nunes, a Republican from California, previously chaired the House Intelligence Committee during Trump’s first term. Known for his controversial stance on intelligence matters, Nunes has accused the FBI of overstepping its authority by allegedly spying on a Trump campaign aide with Russian ties. In 2018, he released a disputed memo asserting that the FBI conspired against Trump during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Announcing the appointment, Trump said Nunes’s past experience would help provide independent assessments of the U.S. Intelligence Community. “Devin will draw on his expertise as a former intelligence committee chair and his role in exposing the ‘Russia Hoax’ to ensure the effectiveness and propriety of intelligence activities”, Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The PIAB, established in the mid-20th century, serves as an independent advisory body, reviewing the intelligence community’s operations and data acquisition methods. Trump described the board as comprising “distinguished citizens from outside the federal government”.
In a separate announcement, Trump appointed Richard Grenell as a presidential envoy for special missions. Grenell, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, will focus on sensitive global hotspots, including Venezuela and North Korea. Trump highlighted Grenell’s diplomatic experience and loyalty in his statement.
Grenell made history in 2020 as the first openly LGBTQ cabinet member during Trump’s administration. He was seen as a potential secretary of state during Trump’s second term, though that role went to Senator Marco Rubio.
The appointments follow Trump’s recent selection of Kash Patel as FBI director. Patel, a former Pentagon official and Nunes ally, played a key role in crafting the 2018 memo and is known for his vocal criticism of the so-called 'deep state'.
These moves underscore Trump’s strategy of positioning loyalists in key advisory and operational roles ahead of his second term, which begins with his inauguration on January 20.