Senate Confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence in Controversial Vote
Gabbard’s appointment raises concerns over Russia ties, past comments on Snowden, and meeting with Syria’s Assad.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, solidifying an unconventional pick to oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. The confirmation followed initial Republican skepticism over her experience and past remarks sympathetic to Russia, but GOP lawmakers ultimately fell in line behind her nomination.
Gabbard, a military veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, was confirmed by a 52-48 votein the sharply divided Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. The lone GOP senator to vote against her was Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
A Controversial Pick for a Critical Role
Gabbard’s confirmation has drawn criticism due to her lack of intelligence experience, her meeting with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad, and her past support for Edward Snowden, a government leaker who exposed classified U.S. surveillance programs and later sought refuge in Russia.
She assumes the top intelligence post at a time when Trump is reshaping major federal agencies. The intelligence community has seen voluntary resignation offers at the CIA, while cybersecurity experts have raised concerns over Elon Musk’s involvement in government data systems through his newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was established after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to coordinate intelligence efforts. However, many Republicans have criticized the agency, arguing that it has grown too large and politicized. Trump has long expressed distrust toward intelligence agencies, making Gabbard’s appointment even more significant.
Republicans Reluctantly Back Gabbard
Despite initial concerns, Republican senators ultimately backed Gabbard after she assured them that she would refocus the ODNI on its core mission: coordinating intelligence efforts and serving as the president’s chief adviser.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who had expressed doubts about Gabbard’s positions on Russia and Snowden, said she was reassured by Gabbard’s commitment to reducing the agency’s scope.
“While I continue to have concerns about certain positions she has previously taken, I appreciate her commitment to rein in the outsized scope of the agency,” Murkowski said, adding that Gabbard will bring “independent thinking” to the role.
However, Democrats remained united in opposition. They cited her lack of intelligence experience, controversial stances on foreign policy, and concerns about her willingness to challenge Trump.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former CIA analyst, criticized the confirmation, saying:
“It is an insult to people who have dedicated their lives and put themselves in harm’s way to have her confirmed into this position.”
Elon Musk’s Influence in Securing Votes
Gabbard’s confirmation was uncertain until the final hours. With a 53-47 Republican-Democrat split, she needed near-unanimous GOP support.
Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base strongly pressured senators to support his nominee. Notably, Elon Musk played a role in swaying Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who had initially raised concerns.
Musk took to social media, labeling Young a “deep-state puppet” for questioning Gabbard’s qualifications. After a private conversation between them, Young changed his stance and voted in favor. Musk later deleted the post and publicly praised Young as an ally.
Gabbard’s Foreign Policy Stances Under Scrutiny
A lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, Gabbard deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. However, her lack of intelligence experience and previous foreign policy stances have raised bipartisan concerns.
One of the most contentious issues during her confirmation hearing was her past praise for Edward Snowden.
“Edward Snowden broke the law,” Gabbard stated when pressed by lawmakers, while also defending his disclosures of classified U.S. surveillance programs as “important information”.
Her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad also drew fire. Following the meeting, Gabbard questioned reports that Assad had used chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war—a stance that critics argued echoed Russian propaganda.
Gabbard defended the visit, stating:
“I asked him tough questions about his own regime’s actions.”
She has also voiced opposition to Section 702, a U.S. surveillance program allowing intelligence agencies to collect communications of suspected terrorists overseas.
A Divisive Appointment in a Turbulent Era
With her confirmation, Gabbard will now oversee the nation’s intelligence apparatus, facing deep skepticism from intelligence professionals and lawmakers alike.
Whether she can balance Trump’s distrust of intelligence agencies with maintaining vital national security operations remains to be seen.
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