FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — On Sunday, Republican senators responded to Democratic critiques regarding Tulsi Gabbard, who has been nominated by Donald Trump to head U.S. intelligence operations, amidst concerns over her perceived ties to Russia and a past meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Russia and Iran.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran from Illinois, expressed reservations about Gabbard during her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Duckworth asserted, “I think she’s compromised,” highlighting Gabbard’s controversial 2017 visit to Syria for discussions with Assad. At that time, Gabbard was serving as a Democratic representative for Hawaii.
“The U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America’s foes. My concern is that she wouldn’t pass a background check,” Duckworth remarked.
Gabbard, a member of the Army National Guard for over two decades, has seen deployments to both Iraq and Kuwait. The Hawaii National Guard has recognized her with a Combat Medical Badge for her actions during hostile engagements as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2005.
Duckworth’s remarks elicited swift criticism from Republican colleagues. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma challenged her on CNN, labeling her comments as “ridiculous and outright dangerous,” and urged her to retract her statements. He stressed that asserting a U.S. lieutenant colonel in the Army is compromised and acts as a Russian asset is severely damaging.
In recent discussions, other Democrats have made unfounded claims, labeling Gabbard as a “Russian asset.” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, without substantiation, that Gabbard is under the influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mullin and other Republicans believe that the backlash stems from Gabbard’s defection from the Democratic Party and her alliance with Trump. Democrats are voicing concerns that her potential appointment to lead national intelligence could jeopardize relationships with international allies and benefit Russia.
California Democrat Adam Schiff, who was recently elected to the Senate, avoided categorizing Gabbard as a Russian asset but criticized her for displaying “very questionable judgment.” He warned, “If our foreign allies don’t trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they’ll stop sharing information with us,” during his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
In 2022, Gabbard endorsed some of Russia’s claims regarding the justification for its invasion of Ukraine, particularly concerning U.S.-funded biolabs studying dangerous pathogens. These labs are part of a broader international initiative intended to contain outbreaks and combat bioweapons, yet Moscow has alleged that Ukraine used them to develop harmful substances. Gabbard maintained that her comments were merely about safeguarding the labs.
Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri called it “totally ridiculous” for Gabbard to be labeled a Russian asset simply for holding different views. “It’s insulting. It’s a slur, frankly. There’s no evidence that she’s an asset of another country,” Schmitt stated on NBC.
Senator James Lankford, also from Oklahoma, admitted he harbors “lots of questions” about Gabbard as the Senate reviews her nomination to lead intelligence efforts. He indicated a desire to query her about her interactions with Assad and her previous statements concerning Russia. “We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was,” Lankford stated, emphasizing the need to contextualize her past comments during congressional discussions.
