Former CIA officer Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, daughter-in-law of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is under consideration for the position of CIA deputy director in the incoming Trump administration. This development raises questions about nepotism, intelligence community reform, and the complex intersection of family legacy and national security.
Fox Kennedy, 44, recently met with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss the deputy director position, which notably does not require Senate confirmation. RFK Jr. is among those encouraging Trump to consider her for the position.
“She’s infinitely qualified for the job,” stated John Maguire, a former CIA officer known for catching spy Harold “Jim” Nicholson. “She’s a very talented woman.”
Fox Kennedy served in the CIA from 2002 to 2010, working at one point under “unofficial cover,” meaning she did not have diplomatic immunity. Her 2019 memoir “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA” sparked controversy when published without completing the CIA’s Publication Review Board process – a mandatory security check for classified information.
Some former officials questioned the accuracy of her reported meetings with Islamic extremists in Pakistan. Her 2016 Al Jazeera interview revealed perspectives that diverge from traditional Republican foreign policy approaches: “The only real way to disarm your enemy is to listen to them,” she stated, advocating for deeper understanding of adversarial motivations.
Fox Kennedy maintains close ties with Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s selection for Director of National Intelligence. She serves as RFK Jr.’s campaign manager, and played a key role in negotiating his endorsement of Trump, despite previous criticisms of Trump’s nuclear arsenal management capabilities.
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RFK Jr.’s support for his daughter-in-law’s appointment intersects with his firm stance on CIA transparency, particularly regarding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. “It was beyond a reasonable doubt that the CIA was involved,” he stated in a 2023 interview about his uncle’s death.
The appointment process reflects broader changes in intelligence community leadership. While some deputy directors are chosen by CIA leadership, others are presidential appointments. Current Deputy Director David Cohen’s selection came through White House recommendation before CIA Director William J. Burns’ endorsement.
Fox Kennedy’s potential appointment generates mixed reactions within intelligence circles. Her critics warn about political interference in intelligence operations, while supporters cite her operational experience and potential for institutional reform.
According to a person with knowledge of her thinking, she is critical of the agency’s post-9/11 emphasis on counterterrorism and asymmetrical warfare, and wants to see a rebuilding of human intelligence gathering capacity in rival powers like China, Russia and Iran.The timing of this consideration coincides with Trump’s broader plans to restructure U.S. intelligence agencies during his second term, with John Ratcliffe already named as CIA director. Fox Kennedy is expected to meet with Ratcliffe to discuss the position.
