President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the US intelligence community, Tulsi Gabbard, is set to meet with key Democratic senators this week to discuss her potential role. Gabbard's first meeting will be with Sen. Jon Ossoff, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, followed by a meeting with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Gabbard has faced criticism for her stances on Syria and Ukraine, which some view as aligning with Russian propaganda. Questions have been raised about her 2017 trip to Syria and meeting with President al-Bashar Assad, which she has defended as an attempt to promote peace in the region.
In an effort to build support among lawmakers, Gabbard is exploring ways to enhance intelligence briefings by providing more raw data to Congress, rather than just finalized assessments. She aims to streamline the Office of the Director of National Intelligence by refocusing its role as a coordinator between intelligence agencies.
Although Gabbard has engaged in discussions with the current director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, they have not yet met in person. These meetings are crucial as Gabbard navigates the confirmation process and seeks to address concerns about her past actions and policy positions.
