FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday that he will resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month. Wray made the announcement during an internal FBI meeting.
Trump, who nominated Wray in 2017 for a 10-year term, has expressed a desire to replace him with Kash Patel. Wray has faced criticism from Republicans in recent years, particularly due to FBI investigations into Trump after he left office.
By resigning rather than waiting to be fired, Wray aims to avoid further confrontation with the incoming Trump administration, which, according to Wray, would have drawn the FBI “even deeper into conflict.”
“My goal is to keep the focus on our mission—the essential work you do every day on behalf of the American people,” Wray told FBI staff.
“I believe this is the best way to prevent the bureau from becoming further embroiled in conflict, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work,” he added.
Trump has previously expressed frustration with Wray, particularly following the FBI’s 2022 raid on his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, as part of the investigation into classified documents from his first term as president.
However, Wray rarely appeared to confront the White House directly.
