Trump taps Gabbard for director of national intelligence

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 and is responsible for putting together the President’s Daily Brief, arming the executive with the information it needs to make key national security decisions.

Gabbard has expressed beliefs that counter the conclusions drawn by U.S. intelligence, particularly when it comes to Russia and Ukraine.

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 Democratic 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, and even helped him with debate prep ahead of his square off with Vice President Harris.

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 2022, she also faulted the Biden adminsition for failing to address Russian concerns as it invaded Ukraine.

“This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russia’s border,” she wrote on X at the time.

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.

“An elected official, a representative of the United States, went on a secret trip to meet with the brutal dictator who had murdered nearly half a million of his own people — it’s reprehensible and cannot be justified,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), another Iraq War veteran, said at the time.

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 4:27 p.m.