Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, is set to undergo a rigorous confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will scrutinize Gabbard's past comments on Russia and a controversial visit with Syria's former leader.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, lacks formal intelligence experience. Her nomination to oversee 18 U.S. intelligence agencies has raised concerns among lawmakers from both parties.
One of the main points of contention is Gabbard's alignment with Russian propaganda regarding Ukraine and her critical remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Republican lawmakers have accused her of spreading Russian disinformation and have questioned her judgment.
Additionally, Gabbard's 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad has drawn criticism. Assad, who was recently ousted following a brutal civil war, faced allegations of using chemical weapons. Gabbard's skepticism about these allegations and her visit with Assad have sparked further debate about her judgment and foreign policy views.
As a legislator, Gabbard sponsored a bill to repeal Section 702, a surveillance program targeting suspected terrorists overseas. While she initially raised concerns about privacy violations, she now supports the program with added safeguards.
Despite bipartisan concerns about her nomination, Republican support for Gabbard has been growing. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton emphasized the importance of focusing on policy differences rather than questioning Gabbard's loyalty or integrity. He highlighted Gabbard's clean background checks and urged a fair evaluation of her qualifications.
The outcome of Gabbard's confirmation hearing remains uncertain, with her ability to address lawmakers' concerns likely to determine the fate of her nomination as director of national intelligence.
