Trump Chooses Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday that he had selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and vocal supporter, to serve as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve with military experience in Iraq, is known for her staunch criticism of the U.S. foreign policy establishment. Her appointment further signals Trump's intention to fill key foreign policy positions with individuals who share his skepticism toward U.S. military intervention abroad.
.jfif)
In a statement, Trump praised Gabbard's "fearless spirit" and her commitment to achieving "peace through strength." The announcement also emphasized that Gabbard had left the Democratic Party due to her admiration for Trump’s leadership, which she believes revitalized the Republican Party as "the party of the people and the party of peace."
Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant, was the first to reveal the news on his X account, posting a statement about Gabbard’s nomination that Trump had personally sent to him. As DNI, Gabbard would oversee 18 intelligence agencies and manage the preparation of the President’s Daily Brief—a daily intelligence summary. While Trump did not frequently read the written summary during his first term, he held regular in-person briefings to engage with his intelligence team.
Her confirmation process may face challenges, with Democratic senators likely to raise questions about her controversial past, particularly her meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017 and her past remarks that appeared to align with Russian talking points. Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concerns, saying, "These are extraordinarily serious jobs...I have a lot of questions."
Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress from 2013 to 2021, gained national attention for her outspoken criticism of U.S. military interventions, particularly in Syria. A strong critic of both Democratic and Republican foreign policies, she argued that military power should not be the default solution to global crises. Gabbard's skepticism of the Obama administration's handling of the Syrian conflict, including airstrikes against Islamic State militants and the deployment of military advisers, was a central theme of her political career. Her controversial 2017 visit to Syria, where she met with Assad, sparked widespread backlash due to the Syrian leader’s human rights abuses.
During her presidential run in 2020, Gabbard called out "counterproductive regime-change wars" and their harmful impact on U.S. security and taxpayers. Her anti-interventionist stance resonated with many, especially those who viewed her as a voice against the military-industrial complex. Gabbard's clashes with prominent Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, further solidified her position as a fierce critic of the political establishment. Clinton had claimed that Russia was backing Gabbard’s campaign, a charge that Gabbard vehemently denied, calling Clinton the "queen of the warmongers."
Since leaving Congress, Gabbard has increasingly aligned herself with conservative viewpoints, culminating in her decision to leave the Democratic Party. Her stance on foreign policy has remained controversial, with Gabbard continuing to echo claims made by the Kremlin, including the false assertion that the U.S. funded biological weapons labs in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Tag:
Tulsi Gabbard net worth
What plane did Tulsi Gabbard fly
Tulsi Gabbard age and height
Tulsi Gabbard husband net worth