Trump Nominates Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, Sparking Controversy

2024-11-15

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), igniting significant controversy due to her lack of intelligence experience and her past statements regarding U.S. foreign policy. Gabbard, a former Democrat turned staunch Trump supporter, is known for her critical stance on U.S. military interventions and has been accused of echoing Russian propaganda.

Critics, including lawmakers across party lines, have expressed alarm over Gabbard’s nomination, citing her past comments that have been interpreted as sympathetic to authoritarian figures like Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Gabbard’s presidency bid in 2020 as a peace candidate was overshadowed by accusations of promoting Kremlin-aligned narratives, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine and Syria. Critics have denounced her views as a serious national security risk if confirmed as DNI, a role that oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies with a budget of approximately $70 billion.

Despite her military background as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and combat experience in Iraq, Gabbard lacks any formal expertise in intelligence or prior service on an intelligence committee. Her appointment follows Trump’s broader strategy of filling key positions with loyalists, often prioritizing personal allegiance over qualifications. Critics warn that Gabbard’s controversial history could lead to significant internal conflicts within the U.S. intelligence community, especially given her past disagreements with established intelligence assessments.

Supporters assert that Gabbard’s views reflect a much-needed skepticism towards conventional foreign policy, particularly concerning military intervention. However, Gabbard herself has previously faced backlash for her meetings with Assad and comments perceived as downplaying the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons.

Her nomination will need Senate confirmation, where Republican control begins in January, raising further questions about her potential to navigate a confirmation process amid significant opposition. With the intelligence community on alert regarding potential hires from Trump’s administration, the fallout from Gabbard’s selection may set a precedent for future appointments within national security roles.

Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination Is a National-Security Risk

The Senate can stop her.

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Tulsi Gabbard: Who is Tulsi Gabbard? Meet the Hindu American appointed by Donald Trump as US Director of National Intelligence | World News - Times of India

US News: Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been appointed as the director of national intelligence by US President-elect Donald Trump.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com