Ahead of Trump's inauguration, the FBI director announced his resignation. What led to this decision?

FBI Director Christopher Wray is resigning nearly three years early due to the imminent change in presidency — on January 20, Donald Trump will officially become the 47th president of the United States. Wray cites his resignation as a means to avoid dragging the FBI into political disputes with the new administration.

This was reported by CBS News. In an interview with the publication, the FBI director explained the reasons behind his decision.

"My decision to leave the FBI, I must say, was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I care deeply, deeply about the FBI, our mission, particularly our people. But you know that the newly elected president has made it clear that he intends to make changes, and the law provides that he can do so for any reason or even without a reason. I concluded that it would be better for the Bureau to try to do this in an orderly manner, so as not to drag the FBI into the fight even deeper", — noted Christopher Wray.

After Wray departs, his deputy, Paul Abate, will serve as the acting director of the FBI. By law, the acting director can serve in the position for no more than 210 days. After that, the Senate must confirm a permanent director.

It is worth noting that Wray was appointed as FBI director by Trump in 2017, but even before 2021, when Trump's presidential term expired, their relationship became strained. Trump's attitude toward the FBI only worsened after a search was conducted at his Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022, followed by Trump being charged with allegedly retaining classified documents.

Let us remind you that on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump's inauguration will take place. This day will mark the beginning of his second term as President of the United States. Trump will become the second president in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms.

The ceremony will be held in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. It will begin around 12:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Kyiv time). Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, will take the oath of office. The new president of the United States will deliver his inaugural address.

As reported by "Telegraph," Trump previously stated that he plans to appoint Kesh Patel as FBI director. Patel is a 44-year-old lawyer and former staff member of the House of Representatives and the National Security Council. He is known for his tendency to spread conspiracy theories and is the author of a book containing a list of officials in the "deep state" against whom efforts should be directed.