CIA Director John Ratcliffe launches probe into COVID-19 origins, vows to counter China’s growing threat

01/29/2025 / By Kevin Hughes

New CIA Director John Ratcliffe has prioritized investigating the origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the possibility of a lab leak from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. He aims to review classified intelligence and ensure transparency, calling it a “day-one priority.”
Ratcliffe identifies China as America’s top geopolitical adversary, marking a strategic shift in the CIA’s focus. He criticizes past U.S. intelligence for being slow to recognize China’s threat due to financial and special interests.
Ratcliffe has pledged to address internal concerns about political bias within the agency, aiming to restore its reputation as an apolitical institution. He has committed to prohibiting loyalty tests and ensuring intelligence assessments remain free from political influence.
Ratcliffe’s investigation into COVID-19’s origins is not only about understanding the pandemic but also holding accountable those who may have contributed to its spread. He emphasizes the need for the president to have accurate intelligence on China’s role.
Ratcliffe’s leadership represents a pivotal moment for the CIA, focusing on countering China’s influence and reclaiming its role as a preeminent intelligence service. His efforts aim to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by the pandemic and rising superpower tensions.

In a bold move to address one of the most contentious issues of the pandemic era, newly confirmed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe has vowed to uncover the origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), focusing on the possibility of a lab leak from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

Ratcliffe, sworn in on Jan. 23, has made this investigation a “day-one priority,” signaling a shift in the agency’s approach to China, which he describes as the United States’ top geopolitical adversary.

His confirmation comes amid growing scrutiny of the CIA’s past handling of intelligence on COVID-19 and its broader focus on global threats. Ratcliffe’s leadership marks a pivotal moment for the agency as it seeks to depoliticize its operations and refocus on countering China’s influence.

The origins of COVID-19 have been a subject of intense debate since the virus first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. While some theories suggest the virus jumped from animals to humans in a natural setting, others point to a potential leak from the WIV, a high-security lab known for studying coronaviruses. Ratcliffe has publicly stated that “our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictate that the origins of COVID-19 was a leak at the WIV.”

However, the CIA has yet to formally endorse this theory, despite allegations that agency analysts were pressured to dismiss it. Ratcliffe’s probe aims to review classified intelligence and ensure transparency.

“The CIA has been sitting on the sidelines for five years in not making an assessment about the origins of COVID,” he said in an interview with Breitbart News. “That’s a day-one thing for me.”

This renewed focus comes as the lab-leak theory has gained traction in recent years, with multiple congressional investigations pointing to evidence supporting the possibility. Ratcliffe’s commitment to resolving this issue underscores its significance not only for understanding the pandemic but also for holding accountable those who may have contributed to its spread.

Ratcliffe deems China as top national security threat

Ratcliffe’s agenda extends beyond COVID-19, as he seeks to refocus the CIA’s efforts on countering China’s growing influence. He has repeatedly emphasized that China, not Russia, is the primary geopolitical threat to the United States. (Related: DNI Ratcliffe details how China influenced the 2020 election while the intel community deep state worked to cover it up.)

“From my unique vantage point as the official who saw more intelligence than anyone else, I assessed that China was far and away our top national security threat,” Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee during his confirmation hearing.

He criticized the U.S. intelligence community for being slow to adapt to this reality, attributing the delay to financial ties and special interests that have historically downplayed China’s actions.

“From Washington, DC, to Wall Street to Silicon Valley to Hollywood, there has been a desire to keep China from being labeled a bad guy because a lot of people make a lot of money from China and in China,” Ratcliffe said.

This shift in focus aligns with President Donald Trump’s priorities, as Ratcliffe aims to arm the administration with the intelligence needed to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“If [China] caused or contributed to the death of a million Americans, the president needs to be armed with that,” Ratcliffe stated.

Ratcliffe’s leadership also promises to address internal concerns about political bias within the CIA. A recent audit revealed that a significant portion of the agency’s workforce questions the objectivity of its intelligence products. Ratcliffe has pledged to restore the CIA’s reputation as an apolitical institution focused on its core mission of collecting foreign intelligence.

“To the brave CIA officers listening around the world, if all of this sounds like what you signed up for, then buckle up and get ready to make a difference,” Ratcliffe said during his confirmation hearing. “If it doesn’t, then it’s time to find a new line of work.”

He has also committed to prohibiting loyalty tests and ensuring that intelligence assessments remain free from political influence. For a nation still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the challenges posed by a rising superpower, Ratcliffe’s leadership could not come at a more critical moment.

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Watch this clip of CIA Director John Ratcliffe pointing out that the agency’s analysts were quiet on the origins of COVID-19 during his testimony before Congress as the former director of national intelligence.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.