WASHINGTON — US President-elect Donald Trump aims to make loyalist Kash Patel the next director of the FBI, he said on Saturday, in a move that would mean replacing the agency's current leader.

Trump announced the former adviser and Pentagon official, who has been critical of the bureau and is known for his views on a so-called government "deep state", as his choice for the post on his Truth Social network.

The FBI's current director, Christopher Wray, was appointed to a 10-year term in 2017, meaning he would either need to step down or be fired.

"Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

A son of Indian immigrants, Patel served in several high-level posts during Trump's first term, including as a national security adviser and as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary.

Also on Saturday, Trump said he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France.

Charles Kushner is "a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker", Trump said on Truth Social.

Charles Kushner is a multimillionaire real estate executive and former attorney; his son is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka.

Separately, Trump nominated Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff, as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA