Robert F. Kennedy, Matt Gaetz, and Pete Hegseth
Recently, Donald Trump has stirred public discourse with a series of announcements regarding his proposed cabinet for a potential second term, leaving many within the federal government astonished. A particular focus has emerged within the intelligence community, centering on Tulsi Gabbard, whom Trump has selected as his nominee for the position of Director of National Intelligence.
Gabbard, the former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, does not have formal qualifications in intelligence and has made a number of contentious statements about countries such as Russia and Syria, which raises questions about her fitness for the role. If her nomination goes through, she would be responsible for overseeing the nation’s 16 intelligence agencies and managing some of the most sensitive aspects of national security.
“We are all in disbelief,” commented a current intelligence official who has witnessed several administrations.
Analysts in the intelligence arena are particularly apprehensive about the possibility that Gabbard may attempt to suppress intelligence reports that are critical of Russia or disrupt funding for significant investigations. Some officials are even weighing the option of resigning if Gabbard were to take command.
The role of Director of National Intelligence was created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to ensure a cohesive national security framework and facilitate the sharing of critical information about emerging threats. Traditionally, the Senate Intelligence Committee must confirm the nominee, which involves scrutinizing financial disclosures and conducting an FBI background check. These evaluations are designed to ensure that the nominee has no major debts or connections to foreign governments that could hinder their ability to oversee thousands of intelligence personnel across agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA.
In stark contrast to the current Director, Avril Haynes, who boasts extensive experience in intelligence roles—including a tenure as deputy director of the CIA under the Obama administration—Gabbard’s background is noticeably different. Haynes has spent decades immersed in intelligence frameworks.
During her congressional tenure, Gabbard did not serve on the House Intelligence Committee; instead, her focus was on committees related to armed services, foreign affairs, and homeland security.
Gabbard first attracted national attention in 2012 when she became the first Hindu, the first American Samoan, and among the first female combat veterans to be elected to Congress. Prior to her role in Congress, she served in Iraq in 2004 as part of a medical unit with the Hawaii Army National Guard and currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Over the last decade, Gabbard has notably strayed from conventional foreign policy perspectives. She has often expressed skepticism toward American intelligence assessments and adopted positions that resonate closely with Russian viewpoints.
In 2017, while still serving in Congress, Gabbard met with Syrian President Bashar Assad after the U.S. had cut diplomatic ties due to Assad’s violent repression of his citizens. Russia has long provided military support to Assad, reinforcing his regime during Syria’s ongoing civil conflict. Gabbard advocated against U.S. backing for opposition forces supported by American intelligence agencies.
Later that year, following a chemical attack in northern Syria, Gabbard echoed Russian claims absolving Assad of responsibility, despite a United Nations investigation that confirmed the Syrian military’s involvement.
Just weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Gabbard shared a video promoting a debunked conspiracy theory that pathogens could escape from biolabs in Ukraine—a narrative pushed by Russia as part of its propaganda efforts. Former Representative Adam Kinzinger criticized her for spreading “actual Russian propaganda,” while Senator Mitt Romney referred to her assertions as “fake Russian propaganda.”
This was not the first time Gabbard faced allegations of promoting Russian interests. During her 2019 presidential campaign, she received positive coverage from Russian media, prompting Hillary Clinton to suggest that a Democrat was being “groomed” by Russia to run as a third-party candidate to assist Trump’s reelection. Many speculated that Clinton was alluding to Gabbard, who subsequently accused Clinton of attempting to “destroy” her reputation.
In a significant shift, Gabbard announced her departure from the Democratic Party two years ago, denouncing it as being “under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness.” Last month, she publicly aligned herself with the Republican Party during a rally for Donald Trump in North Carolina.
Interestingly, Gabbard has not always shared Trump’s views. She openly criticized his 2015 decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, which enjoyed support from not just the Obama administration but also Iran, Russia, China, France, Germany, and the U.K. Furthermore, she condemned Trump’s 2020 order to eliminate Iranian General Qassim Soleimani, asserting that it violated constitutional protocols by targeting a foreign military leader without congressional approval.
