President-elect Trump announced Wednesday that former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard would serve as his director of national intelligence, a remarkable turnaround for a former Democrat accused of peddling Russian narratives.
“For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans. As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!” Trump wrote in a statement.
The Director of National Intelligence oversees an agency that helps coordinate actions among all the U.S. intelligence agencies.
Gabbard could face an uphill battle for confirmation to the role, particularly given criticism over being too aligned with Russian talking points.
A four-term Democratic congresswoman who ran against President Biden in the 2020 primaries, Gabbard left the party in 2022 but did not officially become a Republican until earlier this year. She endorsed Trump in August, citing issues with the Biden administration’s foreign policy.
Already a presidential candidate in 2019, she voted “present” for Trump’s first impeachment, calling it the “culmination of a partisan process.”
But her political shift has accompanied numerous other statements and actions that have promoted numerous accusations that she is peddling disinformation or could even be a Russian asset.
Gabbard has shared content suggesting that the U.S. was involved in Ukraine developing biological weapons – pushing a Russian narrative. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said at the time that she was “parroting Russian propaganda” and that her “treasonous lies may well cost lives.”
In a 2019 interview, Hillary Clinton noted Russian media support surrounding Gabbard and called her a “favorite of the Russians.”
Gabbard in 2017 met with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who was accused of using chemical weapons on his own citizens during the country’s civil war. The meeting triggered outrage among her fellow members of Congress.
During her 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, Gabbard argued Assad was not an enemy of the United States and declined to say he was a war criminal.
Republicans are expected to hold 53 seats in the Senate, meaning Gabbard could afford three GOP defections if she does not receive any Democratic support, with Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-Ohio) able to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Trump’s choice of Gabbard comes as he has quickly filled out a national security team for his administration. He has tapped Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of State and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as ambassador to the United Nations.
Updated 4:16 p.m.
