CIA Director John Ratcliffe reveals moment he found out Trump was running again for POTUS

WASHINGTON, DC: CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Thursday, December 11, shared the exact moment when he found out that Donald Trump was running again for president.

Speaking during the Congressional Ball at the Grand Foyer of the White House on Thursday in Washington, DC, Ratcliffe said that they were out golfing and when he asked Trump, his answer wasn’t yes, no, or maybe — it was, "I have to". 

John Ratcliffe says Trump told him 'they're ruining our country'

John Ratcliffe said on Thursday, "We were playing golf with the newly crowned Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler, two-time US Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau, Dallas Cowboy quarterback, Tony Romo. I remember a lot about that day."

"The thing I remember the most from that day was Tony Romo asking, 'Any chance you might run for President again?' The President didn't say yes. He didn't say no. He didn't say maybe. He said, ''I have to. They're ruining our country'," Ratcliffe added. 

The CIA Director then said, "From that point forward, you look at what happened for the next four years for this man to get back to this place. Against a billion to one odds, they threw everything they possibly could at him indictments and raids and bullets and everything."

"Think about that. And that we're all standing here five years later. He's the President of the United States and just what he said in the 10 months What he's already accomplished to put our country back on track. Franklin Graham would tell you that's divine providence, that that was supposed to happen to save our country," he concluded.

Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in November 2024 in the Presidential race and started his second run as POTUS in January 2025.

Trump questions why polls don’t reflect economic message

Donald Trump on Thursday acknowledged that national polling does not reflect the economic narrative he promoted during the first year of his second term.

Trump questioned on a Truth Social post why voters are not rewarding what he described as historic economic gains, and drew attention from analysts who noted it was unusual for the POTUS to concede any disconnect between his claims and public sentiment.

The president presented a sweeping contrast between what he called "the Worst Inflation in History" under President Joe Biden and what he framed as a dramatic turnaround under his leadership. 

Trump wrote, "When will I get credit for having created, with No Inflation, perhaps the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country?," adding, "When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time?"

He also argued that prices are "coming down FAST", energy costs are at "five year lows", and the stock market has reached an all-time high. He further pointed to tariff revenues as evidence of economic strength.