Newly confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe vowed Thursday to prioritize uncovering the origins of COVID-19, including whether the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. In his first interview after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance, Ratcliffe criticized the CIA for failing to assess the pandemic’s origins and pledged to refocus the agency on addressing the growing threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Ratcliffe stated, “One of the things I’ve talked about a lot is addressing the threat from China on a number of fronts, and that goes back to why a million Americans died and why the Central Intelligence Agency has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID. That’s a day-one thing for me.” Ratcliffe has previously asserted that evidence strongly supports the lab leak theory but noted that the CIA has yet to formally acknowledge it.
Recent whistleblower allegations have added to the controversy, claiming that CIA analysts were bribed to dismiss the Wuhan lab leak theory. Although the scientific and intelligence communities remain divided, the lab leak theory has gained renewed attention after initially being dismissed. Ratcliffe’s tenure promises a significant shift in how the agency approaches the investigation.
Beyond COVID-19, Ratcliffe highlighted the need to arm President Donald Trump with intelligence on the broader threats posed by China. He noted that the CCP uses its economic power to influence institutions in the U.S., from Wall Street to Hollywood. “China is the primary geopolitical threat we face,” Ratcliffe said, adding that the U.S. intelligence community has been slow to adjust its focus away from Russia and toward the Chinese threat.
As Director of National Intelligence, Ratcliffe previously warned about China’s growing aggression, receiving criticism at the time. He emphasized that the CCP operates as a peer competitor to the U.S., not only economically but also militarily and technologically, unlike Russia. “President Trump wants us to position the CIA for the 21st century,” Ratcliffe said, promising to ensure the agency is equipped to counter China’s influence.
Ratcliffe’s leadership marks a clear effort to realign the CIA’s priorities, shifting from Cold War-era strategies to addressing China’s economic and geopolitical strategies in the modern era.
