Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed as Trump's Director of National Intelligence

Live News Reporter

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice for director of national intelligence, was approved in a final U.S. Senate vote Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Gabbard has faced an uphill battle since being tapped for DNI and was grilled last week by senators on both sides of the aisle about her views on Russia and Syria and whether she believed the former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden was a "traitor."

President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have succeeded so far in being confirmed by the full Senate. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was cleared earlier to face the full floor vote, which could also happen on Wednesday.

What To Know

After a 52-48 vote, Gabbard will now oversee and coordinate the work of America's 18 intelligence agencies.

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote "no" for Gabbard's confirmation. McConnell, who is serving his seventh term and has not yet disclosed plans to run for reelection, also broke with Trump in voting "no" for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's nomination.

Tulsi Gabbard arrives at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Las Vegas on September 13, 2024. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the other two Republicans who voted against Hegseth's nomination.

Initially, Republicans were skeptical of the former Democratic representative and military veteran due to her past remarks perceived as sympathetic to Russia, a meeting with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad, and her previous support for government leaker Edward Snowden. Her connections with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also been questioned.

Republicans in the Senate Intelligence Committee had initially announced their concerns around Gabbard's nomination. Collins and Senator Todd Young had been regarded as a pivotal Republican swing vote for her DNI confirmation on the committee.

Young told Politico that "extensive conversations" with Vice President JD Vance had led to his change of heart.

Democrats had noted that Gabbard had no experience working for an intelligence agency. They also claimed that her past stances on Russia, Syria and Snowden made her a poor choice.

"It is an insult to people who have dedicated their lives and put themselves in harm's way to have her confirmed into this position," said Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst.

Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard. The former Hawaii representative was deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat.

While GOP resistance has waned, Republicans have been increasingly critical of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, saying it has grown too large and politicized. Trump has long viewed the national intelligence community with skepticism as well.

Gabbard has a narrow overall positive favorability rating among Americans, according to a survey conducted by Gallup at the end of January. The survey showed that 28 percent have a favorable view of the former representative, compared to 27 percent with a negative view. An additional 46 percent of respondents said they do not have an opinion of Gabbard.

Members of her religious group say they are concerned about Gabbard and how she was "groomed for a political position."

In an op-ed for Newsweek, Gabbard said that if confirmed as the director of national intelligence, she would do her best to fulfill Trump's "mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community (IC), and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation."

What People Are Saying

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, on the floor before the vote: "She has the right background. She has the right experience, and she has the right perspective to keep our nation safe and to keep it secure. Her experience handling highly classified information is extensive."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, on the floor prior to the vote: "In the case of Ms. Gabbard, different views perhaps about national security matters than those held by a lot of Democrats certainly here in this chamber and the progressive movement in this country."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, on the floor prior to the vote: "Is Ms. Gabbard really who Republicans want leading Intelligence Agencies? I'll bet not. Is she the best person we could find for the important position of Director of National Intelligence?"