Trump picks Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence as his cabinet takes shape
Donald Trump has nominated former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence.
The former Army lieutenant colonel who served Hawaii in Congress was tipped for a top national security role after becoming an ally of Trump.
The 43-year-old formally announced she had joined the Republican Party during a campaign rally alongside Trump in the summer.
She will be nominated to succeed current DNI Avril Haines in the Senate-confirmed position.
A lifelong Democrat, Gabbard served in the party as a U.S. Representative from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She rose to national prominence during her unsuccessful 2020 Democratic primary.
Donald Trump has nominated former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022 and announcing her move to the Republican Party two years later, Gabbard became a supporter and surrogate for Trump.
She became co-chair of Trump’s transition team following his historic victory in the presidential election on November 5.
Gabbard has been vocal about her criticism of the “weaponization” of the intelligence community — especially under President Joe Biden’s administration against Trump and his inner circle.
She claims Democrats believe US intelligence agencies are capable of acting without oversight and “screwing” Americans with whom they disagree.
“I’ll never forget when Chuck Schumer warned on television, ‘Trump is an idiot for messing with the intelligence community because they can screw you six ways starting Sunday,” Gabbard said during remarks at the Young Americans for Liberty’s (YAL). Revolution 2022 event in August 2022.
She continued, “The top Democrat in the United States Senate is essentially warning the American people against messing with the intelligence community because they can screw you so bad. As if they are an autonomous government body that is not accountable to anyone.’
“How can this be America?” she asked. “This goes against the ideals of a government of, by and for the people.”
Gabbard announced last summer, along with Donald Trump, that she was joining the Republican Party and has since been a vocal supporter and surrogate for the newly elected president.
Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard
Trump’s announcement of Gabbard on Wednesday helps complete his new national security and defense team.
He plans to appoint Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser.
Trump nominates North Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead his Department of Homeland Security.
And earlier this week, the former and future president announced that his previous DNI John Ratcliffe would lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Gabbard was once considered a candidate for Trump’s vice presidential pick.
Gabbard was at the center of controversy in 2022 for pushing claims that Ukraine was working on a biological weapon.
Critics claimed the former congresswoman was repeating Russian propaganda, saying she was “deeply concerned” about biolabs in Ukraine that Moscow would target and spread “deadly pathogens.”
The Kremlin used claims about “US-funded biolabs” as one of several justifications for its initial invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) made some of the sharpest comments against Gabbard, accusing her of “parroting false Russian propaganda” and claiming her “insidious lies could cost lives.”