Rep. Doug Collins said Friday it's "humbling" that President Donald Trump is considering nominating him to become his permanent Director of National Intelligence, but it is "not a job that would interest me and not one that I would accept" as he is focused on winning the GOP nomination for Senate in Georgia against Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
"I'm running in the Senate race in Georgia," the Republican lawmaker, who emerged as one of Trump's most staunch defenders during the recent impeachment proceedings, told Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria." "I'll continue to fight for this president. The intelligence community has to get right. I'm sure the president will pick somebody appropriate for the job."
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One early Friday while heading from Colorado to Nevada that Collins is one of several candidates under consideration, reports The Washington Post. His comments came one day after announcing U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell would be serving as acting DNI.
Loeffler was sworn in in January, after being appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to replace retired Sen. Johnny Isakson. The Post notes that a Collins appointment would help the White House avoid dealing with the Georgia race.
"I'm running against a senator that decided to support the president four weeks before the appointment," Collins said Friday. "The seat could be in jeopardy because of the flaws she has."
Loeffler also showed she is a strong Trump supporter during the impeachment proceedings, slamming Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah for voting to impeach Trump and to call witnesses in the Senate trial.
Trump late Thursday night thanked Grenell on Twitter for "stepping in to serve as acting DNI. I will be nominating a terrific candidate for the job very soon. Stay tuned!"
Grenell responded he is "happy to jump in and serve our country and our president."