Tulsi Gabbard’s Meeting With Syria’s Assad Resurfaces Amid Spy Chief Nomination Battle
Gabbard’s Past Foreign Policy Moves Under Scrutiny
Tulsi Gabbard’s 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is resurfacing as a central issue in her nomination for director of national intelligence under President Donald Trump. The former Hawaii congresswoman, once a Democratic rising star, now faces scrutiny over her foreign policy stances and relationships.
At the time of her Syria trip, lawmakers and human rights advocates condemned her for meeting with an adversary accused of war crimes. Despite the criticism, Gabbard insisted the visit was a fact-finding mission aimed at exploring possible paths to peace in Syria. However, the details of her discussions with Assad remain unclear, fueling new concerns as she awaits Senate confirmation.
Key Republican Senators Withhold Judgment
Gabbard’s confirmation could come down to a slim margin, as she can only afford to lose three Republican votes if Democrats unanimously oppose her. GOP lawmakers have been cautious in their responses, with Sen. Lindsey Graham stating he will wait for her testimony during Thursday’s confirmation hearing before making a decision.
Among the questions Graham and other senators want answered: “Why did you go to Syria? What did you discuss with Assad?”
Gabbard’s political trajectory—from progressive Democrat to Trump ally—has been marked by her unorthodox foreign policy positions. She has repeatedly challenged both Democratic and Republican administrations on national security issues, setting her apart from mainstream party lines.
Syria Trip Raises Red Flags for Intelligence Post
Gabbard’s 2017 visit to Syria has become a major talking point, with critics questioning whether it reflects poor judgment for a nominee leading U.S. intelligence agencies. The Trump administration has dismissed these concerns, noting that world leaders routinely meet with adversarial figures.
Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, stated that Gabbard’s trip was pre-approved by the House Ethics Committee and included debriefings with U.S. officials upon her return. Still, intelligence experts say she is one of the most unconventional choices ever nominated for the position.
Beyond Syria, Gabbard has drawn criticism for positions including her support for pardoning intelligence leaker Edward Snowden and her opposition to the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange, once labeled by former CIA Director Mike Pompeo as running a “hostile intelligence service,” recently secured his release through a plea deal that prevented U.S. prison time.
Accusations of Aligning With Russian Interests
Gabbard has long faced allegations of aligning with talking points favored by Russia. In 2019, she questioned the Trump administration’s assessment that Assad’s government used sarin gas on civilians, despite multiple international bodies confirming the attack.
Her 2017 trip to Syria was organized by Bassam and Elias Khawam, Arab-American brothers involved in U.S. politics. The Khawams have ties to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a movement that has historically supported Assad’s government. Gabbard’s visit included meetings with Assad, his wife, Syria’s foreign minister, and the country’s U.N. ambassador. She also met with civil society figures in Lebanon.
Her congressional staff was reportedly unaware of her trip beforehand, leading to complications in filing the required disclosures after her return.
Gabbard’s Justification: Seeking “Peaceful Solutions”
Gabbard has defended her meeting with Assad, stating: “If we truly care about the Syrian people, we have to be willing to talk with anyone who can help bring peace.”
However, critics argue her rhetoric has often echoed positions beneficial to U.S. adversaries, particularly Russia.Hillary Clinton famously called her a “Russian asset” in 2019, prompting Gabbard to file a libel lawsuit, which she later dropped. More recently, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley referred to her as a “Russian, Iranian, Syrian, and Chinese sympathizer.”
Confirmation Hearing Set to Be Contentious
While Senate Republicans have not openly opposed Gabbard’s nomination, they are expected to press her on her foreign policy positions during her confirmation hearing.
Sen. James Lankford, a member of the Intelligence Committee, stated, “We need answers. She met with Bashar al-Assad, and we need to understand the purpose and outcome of that meeting.”
As Gabbard prepares for what is expected to be a highly scrutinized confirmation process, her past foreign policy stances and her 2017 trip to Syria remain at the center of the debate.
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