President-elect Donald Trump has put forth former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence (DNI), a decision that must have generated intense discussion across the nation and particularly Washington’s political and intelligence circles. The appointment puts Gabbard, 43, in line to oversee and manage 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and National Security Agency.
A military veteran with service in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Horn of Africa, Gabbard brings 17 years of Hawaii National Guard experience to the role but lacks formal intelligence credentials. She currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.
“I’ve been a soldier for over 21 years,” Gabbard stated on Veterans Day, emphasizing her military background. She added, “The best way for us to honor our veterans is to make sure that our men and women in uniform are only sent into harm’s way as a last resort.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) expressed reservations about the nomination. “I have a lot of questions,” Warner told reporters following the announcement.
The selection has prompted strong reactions from Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) wrote on X: “Not only is she ill-prepared and unqualified, but she traffics in conspiracy theories and cozies up to dictators like Bashar-al Assad and Vladimir Putin.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) called the choice “incredibly reckless,” while Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) raised concerns about national security implications. “As the highest-ranking intelligence official in the federal government, she would have access to information spanning everything from our nation’s nuclear weapons program to the location and activities of our military service members,” Magaziner stated.
Gabbard’s foreign policy positions have drawn scrutiny. In 2017, she conducted an unannounced trip to Syria, meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. Following the visit, she stated, “Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat.”
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Her statements on Ukraine have also faced criticism. Following Russia’s invasion, Gabbard posted a video on X calling for Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv to “put geopolitics aside.” She later suggested the conflict could have been prevented if the West had guaranteed Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO.
A Western intelligence official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the topic, warned that Gabbard’s appointment could affect international intelligence sharing. “I imagine even Israel will have serious qualms — America’s main intelligence partner on terrorist threats,” the official said, adding that allied intelligence sharing might become politically motivated rather than professionally driven.
Gabbard’s political journey includes notable shifts. She served in Congress as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021. After an unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign where she initially endorsed Joe Biden, Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022, describing it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers.”
She subsequently joined News Media Outlets as a contributor, became vocal on social issues, and endorsed Trump in August 2024, appearing at campaign events in states like North Carolina.
The nomination requires Senate confirmation, with hearings expected to examine Gabbard’s qualifications and views extensively. While some view her selection as preferable to potential alternatives like former acting DNI Ric Grenell, her confirmation process is anticipated to face significant challenges.
A senior former intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the choice as a “left turn and off the bridge,” reflecting widespread surprise within the intelligence community at the selection.
Russian state media has already begun analyzing the potential implications of Gabbard’s nomination, with Rossiya 1 correspondent Dmitry Melnikov suggesting it “does not bode well for Kyiv,” citing her previous criticism of the Biden administration’s Ukraine policies.
