Washington, D.C. — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI) as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has sparked swift backlash from several prominent Democratic lawmakers, who argue that Gabbard’s foreign policy positions and past associations make her unsuitable for the critical national security role.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), a former CIA officer, was among the first to voice strong objections, expressing her concerns on social media. “Not only is she ill-prepared and unqualified, but she traffics in conspiracy theories and cozies up to dictators like Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin,” Spanberger wrote in a post on X. Gabbard has faced criticism in the past for meeting with Syrian President Assad in 2017, a move she defended as part of her commitment to exploring all diplomatic channels to address conflicts.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) echoed these concerns, calling the appointment “incredibly reckless” and questioning Gabbard’s allegiance to U.S. security priorities. “Putting someone with known sympathies for foreign adversaries is not putting America’s interests first—it’s putting our security at risk,” he said.
Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) added that Gabbard’s appointment could compromise sensitive national intelligence. “Tulsi Gabbard’s deep ties to some of our nation’s most dangerous adversaries, including Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Vladimir Putin of Russia, make her an untrustworthy guardian of our nation’s most closely held secrets,” Magaziner stated. He emphasized that as the top intelligence official, Gabbard would have access to critical and sensitive information related to national defense, including details about nuclear security and military operations. “We cannot risk this information falling into the hands of our adversaries,” he added.
Trump’s Endorsement of Gabbard as DNI
Trump’s nomination of Gabbard comes after the former lawmaker’s vocal support for his campaign during the 2024 election. Gabbard, who served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from 2013 to 2021, shifted her political stance in recent years, leaving the Democratic Party and aligning with Trump and the GOP.
“It is my great honor to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence,” Trump said in a statement. “Tulsi’s fearless spirit and commitment to America’s values make her the right person to lead our intelligence community.”
Gabbard, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, highlighted her military experience on Veterans Day, affirming her commitment to U.S. service members. “The best way to honor our veterans…is to make sure that our men and women in uniform are only sent into harm’s way as a last resort,” she wrote in a post.
Gabbard’s nomination for the DNI post, a cabinet-level role overseeing 18 intelligence agencies, is expected to face a tough Senate confirmation process, as both Democratic and some Republican lawmakers may raise questions about her foreign policy positions and past statements.
