WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence under President Donald Trump, after Republicans who initially had reservations about her qualifications aligned in support of her nomination.
Gabbard’s appointment is notable due to her unconventional background, given her previous remarks that have seemed sympathetic to Russia, a controversial meeting she held with former Syrian President Bashar Assad, and her past advocacy for whistleblower Edward Snowden. A military veteran and ex-Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard obtained confirmation through a vote of 52-48. Most Democrats opposed her appointment in a Senate that is sharply divided, with Republicans enjoying a narrow majority. The only dissenting Republican vote was cast by Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky.
Her confirmation marks another significant appointment in the Trump administration as it seeks to make substantial changes across various federal sectors, including intelligence. CIA staffers and other intelligence personnel have been offered buyouts, while concerns have been voiced by lawmakers and security officials regarding Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and its access to sensitive intelligence operation data.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was established following the intelligence failures exposed by the September 11, 2001 attacks. Increasingly, Republicans have criticized the ODNI for expanding too much and for being overly politicized. Trump has historically approached the nation’s intelligence services with skepticism.
Despite initial concerns regarding Gabbard’s viewpoints on Snowden, Syria, and Russia, GOP senators ultimately supported her, encouraged by her commitment to prioritize the core objectives of the office: overseeing federal intelligence coordination and acting as the primary intelligence advisor to the president. Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, while expressing lingering worries about Gabbard’s prior positions, commended her intention to restrain the agency’s extensive influence, stating that Gabbard would infuse “independent thinking” into her role.
In contrast, McConnell voiced his doubts, stating that he perceived Gabbard as presenting “unnecessary risk” in her new responsibilities. He expressed concern that the intelligence evaluations presented to the President could be compromised by an individual with a record of questionable judgment.
Democrats criticized Gabbard for lacking intelligence agency experience, emphasizing that her past positions regarding Russia, Syria, and Snowden were cause for disqualification. They raised concerns about her ability to challenge Trump if the situation demanded it and her capacity to maintain crucial intelligence cooperation with U.S. allies. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York articulated his distrust, suggesting that Republicans were compelled to back Gabbard due to Trump’s influence, questioning whether she truly was the best candidate for the role of leading intelligence efforts.
Prior to Republican support solidifying, Gabbard’s nomination faced uncertainty, particularly due to the 53-47 Republican Senate majority that necessitated near-unanimous support from GOP members. Trump’s base has pressured Republican senators to endorse his nominees, while Musk recently labeled Senator Todd Young from Indiana as a “deep-state puppet” after Young initially expressed hesitance toward Gabbard but later switched to a supportive stance following discussions with Musk.
Gabbard holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the National Guard with two deployments to the Middle East under her belt. She also sought the presidency in 2020. However, she does not have formal intelligence experience and has never managed a government agency.
During her confirmation hearing, her past praise and support for Snowden, who leaked sensitive information regarding U.S. surveillance tactics, came under intense scrutiny. Although Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden revealed significant issues with unconstitutional practices, she also condemned him for breaking the law, stating, “Edward Snowden broke the law.”
Gabbard’s controversial meeting with Assad in 2017 stirred further debate. Following a prolonged civil war marked by allegations against Assad of using chemical weapons, her engagement with the leader faced backlash as critics accused her of legitimizing a dictator. She later expressed skepticism regarding the use of such weapons by Assad. In her defense, Gabbard stated that she took the opportunity to pose challenging questions about human rights issues within his regime.
Additionally, Gabbard has previously amplified rhetoric aligned with Russian narratives justifying its actions in Ukraine and has opposed the U.S. surveillance program, Section 702, which enables the collection of communications from suspected terrorists abroad.
