On Wednesday, Donald Trump appointed former Democrat and military veteran Tulsi Gabbard as his new Director of National Intelligence.
Known for her opposition to U.S. support for Ukraine and for a 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Gabbard brings an unconventional stance on foreign policy to the role. Trump praised Gabbard as a fearless leader, stating she would bring her “indomitable spirit” to the nation’s intelligence community.
Gabbard expressed gratitude to Trump, thanking him for the opportunity to serve and voicing her commitment to protecting American security and freedoms. Earlier this year, the former Hawaii congresswoman crossed party lines to back Trump, even aiding him during debate preparations.
During her 2020 presidential run, she called for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq and Syria. Her controversial views and past remarks drew criticism, including from Hillary Clinton, who claimed, without evidence, d in 2019 that Russia was grooming a Democratic candidate for a third-party run—a remark Gabbard vehemently denied.
