Fact Check: Did Donald Trump Forget to Swear in Tulsi Gabbard?

Tulsi Gabbard was approved by the Senate as President Donald Trump's pick for Director of National Security on Wednesday, but critics of the president said that he forgot to swear in the former Democrat.

After the Senate voted to confirm Gabbard as the head of 18 U.S. intelligence services in a 52-48 vote, she headed to the Oval Office to celebrate with the president.

All cabinet members take an oath of office upon being confirmed by the Senate, but some media coverage of the meeting between Gabbard and Trump omitted this oath, leading critics to claim that Gabbard was not officially sworn in because Trump had forgotten to do it.

The Claim

On Wednesday, Tulsi Gabbard went to meet with Donald Trump in the Oval Office after she was confirmed by the Senate to join his cabinet as the director of national intelligence.

In coverage of the event by Newsmax, the oath of office, in which cabinet members recite a pledge to uphold and defend the Constitution, was not featured.

Following the meeting, Newsmax anchor Chris Salcedo said: "Alright, folks, there you go. We were hoping to see Tulsi Gabbard getting sworn in here, but apparently that's not going to happen."

Clips of the coverage went viral on social media, with independent political journalist Aaron Rupar writing: "even Newsmax is like, daf*q was that?"

One post that received more than 300,000 views, made by vocal Trump critic Ron Filipkowski, read: "Trump got a little caught up talking about himself again and forgot to swear in Tulsi Gabbard at Tulsi Gabbard's swearing in ceremony."

The Facts

Gabbard was sworn in during the Oval Office meeting. Extended footage of the event shows Gabbard placing her hand on a copy of the constitution held by her husband, Abraham Williams, while Attorney General Pam Bondi conducts the oath.

Speaking at the event, Trump said: "We're delighted to swear in our next director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Pam is going to administer the oath, and when she does that, I'll sign your new certificate."

After Gabbard finished the oath, she was offered congratulations by Bondi and Trump. Trump then signed a certificate formalizing the event, which he gave to Gabbard.

The Ruling

False.

Claims that Trump forgot to swear Tulsi Gabbard in were based on inaccurate news reports that failed to include the full coverage of the event.

Gabbard has completed every step necessary to assume her role as director of national intelligence, and was sworn in by the attorney general with multiple witnesses present.

FACT CHECK BY NEWSWEEK