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WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump, following a shift in support among Republicans who had previously raised concerns about her qualifications and perspectives.
Gabbard’s appointment comes as a surprise to many, given her history of controversial views, including her previously sympathetic remarks toward Russia, a meeting with the ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad, and earlier support for Edward Snowden, the whistleblower known for leaking classified information. Despite these issues, Gabbard, a military veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, received approval from the Senate with a narrow 52-48 vote, where Democrats largely opposed her nomination in a politically divided body dominated by a slim Republican majority. The only dissenting Republican vote was cast by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Her confirmation is part of the new administration’s broader initiative to overhaul various aspects of the federal government, including its intelligence operations. Recent buyout offers have been extended to staff at the CIA and other intelligence agencies, while significant concerns have arisen regarding Elon Musk’s involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency and its access to sensitive intelligence databases.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created in response to failures in the intelligence community that were highlighted by the September 11, 2001 attacks. In recent years, Republican criticisms have focused on the agency’s perceived growth and politicization, while Trump has consistently scrutinized the nation’s intelligence community. Senators who once doubted Gabbard due to her previous positions on critical issues have now expressed confidence in her commitment to refocusing the agency on its primary responsibilities: coordinating intelligence activities at the federal level and advising the president.
“I still have reservations about some of her past positions, but I appreciate her commitment to scale back the agency’s extensive role,” stated Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, emphasizing that Gabbard would likely bring an element of independent thought to the position. However, McConnell criticized her appointment, suggesting that Gabbard’s past judgments present “unnecessary risk” to the role. “The country deserves assurance that the intelligence assessments provided to the President are free from the biases of a Director of National Intelligence with a problematic judgment history,” he remarked.
In response to McConnell’s vote against Gabbard, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed disappointment towards any Republican senator who would oppose the president’s commendable nominees. It is also worth noting that McConnell previously voted against confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
Democrats have voiced significant concerns regarding Gabbard’s lack of experience in intelligence roles, pointing to her history with Russia, Syria, and Snowden as disqualifying factors. They ponder whether she would have the fortitude to challenge Trump if necessary, or to maintain essential intelligence collaborations with American allies. “It’s hard to trust our most confidential information to someone who has echoed Russian narratives and entertained conspiracy theories,” stated Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York, suggesting that Republican support for Gabbard is largely influenced by Trump’s pressure. “Is Ms. Gabbard truly the best choice to lead our intelligence agencies?” he questioned.
Initially uncertain, Gabbard’s nomination gained traction as GOP senators aligned in her favor, essential for her success given the Senate’s 53-47 Republican majority. The influence of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base pressured senators to endorse his nominees. For instance, influential ally Elon Musk previously identified Senator Todd Young from Indiana as a “deep-state puppet” for expressing apprehensions about Gabbard but later helped sway Young to support her after their discussion.
Gabbard, who serves as a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard and has deployed to the Middle East, ran for the presidency in 2020 but lacks formal intelligence experience and has never held leadership in a government agency. Her earlier comments praising Snowden have been particularly contentious at her confirmation hearings, with critics highlighting that Snowden fled to Russia following accusations of leaking classified information about U.S. surveillance practices. Gabbard acknowledged that while Snowden’s revelations were significant regarding potentially unconstitutional programs, he had breached crucial protocols for protecting classified information, stating, “Edward Snowden broke the law.”
Her controversial 2017 meeting with Assad, who had recently been removed after leading a brutal civil conflict and was accused of deploying chemical weapons, also drew significant scrutiny. Critics claimed her visit legitimized a dictator, and her skepticism regarding the use of chemical weapons further intensified scrutiny. However, Gabbard defended her approach to the meeting, stating that she pressed Assad on grave issues related to human rights.
Additionally, Gabbard has expressed views in line with Russian justifications for its actions in Ukraine and previously opposed a vital U.S. surveillance program known as Section 702, which permits authorities to collect communications from suspected terrorists overseas.
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