WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has selected former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for the post of Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard served in Congress as a Democrat but quit the party in 2022, becoming one of Trump’s most vocal advocates during his losing presidential reelection effort in 2024 and reportedly a formal member of the Republican Party late in that contest.
EXCLUSIVE: Former Democratic Vice Chair & Pres. Candidate Tulsi Gabbard on why she left the party
Gabbard, a combat veteran of the Army Reserve, has been one of the biggest critics recently of late to politicians because of her non-interventionist foreign policy, with significant points being given to the past statements that some insist on presenting as sympathetic to Moscow. Trump had no such qualm, praising Gabbard’s “patriotism and clear-eyed approach to national security,” in announcing her nomination. She will oversee the country’s 17 agencies and lead efforts in safeguarding U.S. national security interests if confirmed.
Gabbard was another unconventional pick by Trump, who has repeatedly nominated people outside the mainstream Washington establishment. Opponents of the pick argue that her earlier stances on foreign policy place her in a position that could leave the United States’s response to adversaries such as Russia and China weaker. Her military service and willingness to challenge bipartisan norms of foreign policy are seen as strengths by her backers for the new head of intelligence.
This appointment forms part of a broader effort by Trump to recast some of America’s most critical national security positions ahead of a return to the White House. Such appointments require Senate approval, and Gabbard’s are certain to be vetted closely on the part of lawmakers across the aisle.
