Trump names Tulsi Gabbard as pick for head of National Intelligence
Posted by Ed on November 14, 2024, 3:19 am
Trump names Tulsi Gabbard as pick for head of National Intelligence
President-elect Trump nominated former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of National Intelligence on Wednesday.
The big picture: The onetime Democratic presidential candidate endorsed Trump earlier this year and joined his presidential transition team.
State of play: An Iraq War veteran and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Gabbard is an outspoken non-interventionist.
She has broken with the Washington foreign policy consensus on numerous issues from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which she blamed in part on NATO expansion, and the Syrian civil war. Gabbard controversially met with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2019 and declared that he was "not an enemy" of the U.S. She is an unusually high-profile pick for a bureaucratic job coordinating between U.S. intelligence agencies. Between the lines: Trump repeatedly clashed with his own intelligence agencies during his first term, and has vowed to "clean out" those agencies upon his return to office.
What he's saying: "As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties - She is now a proud Republican!" Trump said in his announcement.
"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," he added. Flashback: Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 following her unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid.
Gabbard has many backers in pro-Trump media, such as Tucker Carlson, who frequently interviewed her on his Fox News show.
on November 14, 2024, 3:19 am