Tulsi Gabbard’s Contentious Path to Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence
After months of delays, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Donald T
rump’s embattled nominee for Director of National Intelligence, is set to face both public and private scrutiny on Thursday. However, her chances of confirmation remain uncertain, with key Senate Republicans voicing concerns over her controversial past and shifting positions.
Gabbard’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 30. As she prepares to defend her record, mounting opposition threatens to derail her nomination. Some of Trump’s allies have launched a last-minute push for an open vote, aiming to pressure undecided GOP senators into supporting her.
Gabbard’s Background: From Congress to the Intelligence Community.At 43, Gabbard is a military veteran, former Democratic congresswoman, and one-time presidential candidate. Born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, she entered local politics before securing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. Serving four terms, she became the first Hindu and first American Samoan elected to Congress and spent time on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Initially running for president in 2020 on a progressive platform, Gabbard later endorsed Joe Biden. In 2022, she dramatically cut ties with the Democratic Party, accusing it of being dominated by "an elitist cabal of warmongers" and "woke ideologues." Since then, she has embraced Trump’s MAGA movement, campaigned for high-profile Republican candidates, and built a presence as a Fox News contributor.
Controversies Casting a Shadow Over Her Confirmation
Meetings With Assad
One of the most contentious issues surrounding Gabbard’s nomination is her 2017 meetings with then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, amid the Syrian civil war. At the time, Assad faced widespread accusations of human rights violations, making Gabbard’s engagement highly controversial.
Although her itinerary—approved by the House Ethics Committee—did not list official meetings with Syrian leaders, records later revealed that she met with Assad twice over three days. Her staff was reportedly unaware of these meetings, raising further questions about her transparency.
Gabbard has maintained that she did not expect to meet with Assad before traveling to Syria, yet her interactions remain a sticking point for lawmakers wary of her foreign policy approach.
Shifting Position on FISA Surveillance Gabbard’s evolving stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has also drawn scrutiny. The law allows the U.S. government to collect communications from non-citizens outside the country without a warrant, a key tool for national security.
While in Congress, Gabbard opposed Section 702, calling for reforms to protect civil liberties. In 2020, she voted against its reauthorization, citing concerns over warrantless surveillance of American citizens. She also co-sponsored legislation aimed at strengthening First Amendment protections against government overreach.
However, since her nomination, Gabbard has reversed her position, now supporting Section 702 after meetings with lawmakers. This shift has swayed some Republicans, like Sen. James Lankford, to back her nomination. But others, such as Sen. Susan Collins, remain skeptical, questioning whether her change of heart is genuine.
Echoing Russian Narratives on UkraineGabbard has also faced backlash for statements mirroring Russian propaganda on the Ukraine war. She initially amplified debunked claims that U.S.-funded labs in Ukraine were developing biological weapons—a theory promoted by the Kremlin. Though she later backtracked, her comments continue to raise alarms among Senate Democrats.
She has also criticized U.S. support for Ukraine, arguing that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations have escalated tensions with Russia. Additionally, she has described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as corrupt and defended Trump’s rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, framing it as a diplomatic strategy to prevent conflict.
Further complicating matters, Russian state media has praised Gabbard, with outlets like RIA Novosti describing her as a "superwoman" and highlighting her past interviews on Russian television. Ukrainian intelligence has reportedly identified her as a figure sympathetic to Russian interests.
Past Support for Edward Snowden Gabbard’s past advocacy for Edward Snowden has also drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers. In 2020, she co-sponsored legislation with then-Rep. Matt Gaetz to drop espionage charges against the former NSA contractor, who leaked classified U.S. intelligence and later sought asylum in Russia.
During Trump’s presidency, Gabbard also pushed for pardons for individuals she claimed had exposed corruption within the intelligence community, listing Snowden among potential candidates. Some GOP senators view this as a red flag, given Snowden’s controversial status as both a whistleblower and a fugitive.
Will Gabbard Overcome GOP Resistance?Despite strong backing from Trump’s allies, Gabbard’s confirmation faces an uphill battle. Her history of foreign policy controversies, shifting views on surveillance, and past support for figures like Snowden have raised bipartisan concerns.
As the Senate Intelligence Committee prepares to grill her, key Republicans remain undecided. If her nomination fails to gain traction, it could signal a major setback for Trump’s effort to reshape the intelligence community with loyalists ahead of the 2024 election.
With a contentious hearing looming, Gabbard’s ability to navigate these political landmines will determine whether she secures confirmation—or becomes another casualty of an increasingly divided Senate.