Something big has changed between Donald Trump and the FBI.
They’ve been at odds for many years.
But all of a sudden, Donald Trump struck a deal with the FBI that rocked D.C.
For nearly all of Donald Trump’s first term, he endured an incredibly tense relationship with the FBI, including the Russiagate investigations which turned out to be based on nothing.
Many people surely expected a similar scene to play out when Trump won a second term.
But something different is in the air.
D.C. is proving to be more receptive to Trump this time around.
Now the FBI has struck a deal with him.
According to the New York Post, “President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team reached an agreement with the Justice Department on Tuesday that will allow the FBI to conduct background checks on administration nominees and appointees.”
“The agreement follows controversy over some of Trump’s choices for top posts in his incoming administration.”
Presumably the agreement includes some kind of assurance that the people doing the background checks won’t be hostile actors ideologically opposed to Trump.
The terms of the agreement haven’t been made public, so this is all speculation, but it makes logical sense.
The article continues, “The agreement to allow the FBI to conduct background checks on nominees and appointees could potentially put senators at ease when voting to confirm Trump’s picks.”
“Several Republican senators had voiced a preference to having the bureau conduct background checks prior to confirmation hearings next year.”
“The agreement also clears the way for the DOJ to grant the transition team greater access to information from federal agencies in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration.”
“Last week, Trump’s team reached a deal with the White House on allowing transition briefings to begin taking place.”
Many of Trump’s nominees have not been traditional picks and many in the Senate feel that having these FBI background checks performed will put them more at ease in voting for an unconventional type of nominee.
It appears tensions are cooling between Trump and the FBI, which might clear the way for most or all of Trump’s nominees to be confirmed.