Tulsi Gabbard Advances to Final Senate Vote for DNI Role

Yesterday at 8:25 pm

1925 posts

Tulsi Gabbard Advances to Final Senate Vote for DNI Role \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The U.S. Senate advanced Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), setting up a final vote later this week. The 52-46 procedural vote, largely along party lines, increases her chances of confirmation despite Democratic opposition and past controversies over her stances on Russia, Edward Snowden, and Syria. With strong backing from Trump allies, including Elon Musk, Gabbard is one step closer to leading U.S. intelligence.

Gabbard’s DNI Confirmation: Quick Looks

Senate Advances Nomination: Gabbard’s confirmation vote set for later this week.
Narrow Republican Support: Needs nearly all GOP senators to vote in favor.
Trump-Backed Campaign: Elon Musk and other allies pressured Republicans to support her.
Past Snowden Comments: Gabbard defended NSA whistleblower’s revelations while condemning his actions.
Syria Controversy: Faced backlash for meeting with now-deposed Bashar Assad in 2017.
Russian Propaganda Claims: Accused of echoing Kremlin talking points on Ukraine.
Reversal on Surveillance: Previously opposed U.S. spying tools, now says she supports them.

Deep Look

Tulsi Gabbard’s path to becoming the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) took a major step forward Monday as the U.S. Senate cleared her nomination for a final confirmation vote. The 52-46 procedural vote to end debate on her nomination fell largely along party lines, reflecting the deep partisan divide over her selection by President Donald Trump.

If confirmed, Gabbard would assume leadership of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which was created in 2004 to coordinate the work of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. However, her nomination has been one of Trump’s most controversial, due to past remarks sympathetic to Russia, her meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad, and her defense of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Senate Battle Over Gabbard’s Confirmation

With a slim Republican majority in the Senate, Gabbard’s confirmation is not guaranteed. Nearly all GOP senators must vote in favor, as Democrats remain firmly opposed.

Gabbard’s chances improved significantly last week, after some skeptical Republican lawmakers fell in line following a pressure campaign led by Trump allies, including billionaire Elon Musk.
While some Republicans initially raised concerns about her foreign policy views, most have now rallied behind her, citing her military service and national security experience.
The final confirmation vote is expected as early as Wednesday.

Gabbard’s Background: Military Service & Political Career

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics.

She served in the National Guard, deploying twice to the Middle East.
She ran for president in 2020, where she frequently criticized the Democratic establishment and positioned herself as a non-interventionist on foreign policy.
Her break from mainstream Democratic positions earned her favor among some conservatives, and she officially left the Democratic Party in 2022.

Controversial Views on Surveillance & Foreign Policy

1. Snowden & NSA Leaks
Gabbard’s past praise of Edward Snowden became a major issue during her Senate nomination hearing.

Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified information about U.S. surveillance programs before fleeing to Russia.
Gabbard previously defended his actions, arguing that while he broke the law, his leaks exposed unconstitutional government spying.
Under questioning, Gabbard stated she now fully supports U.S. intelligence programs and believes Snowden should face legal consequences.

2. Syria & Assad Meeting
One of the biggest controversies surrounding Gabbard is her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was accused of using chemical weapons during the country’s civil war.

Critics argue she legitimized a dictator, while Gabbard maintains she used the opportunity to press Assad on human rights violations.
Her skepticism about Assad’s role in chemical attacks sparked further backlash.
Assad was recently deposed, adding another layer of complexity to Gabbard’s foreign policy record.

3. Allegations of Spreading Russian Propaganda
Gabbard has been repeatedly accused of echoing Kremlin narratives, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine.

She has claimed that the U.S. provoked Russia into invading Ukraine, a view widely criticized as aligning with Russian disinformation efforts.
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton suggested that Gabbard was being groomed as a “Russian asset”, a claim Gabbard vehemently denied.

Republican Support & Trump’s Influence

Despite these controversies, Gabbard’s confirmation gained momentum due to strong backing from Trump and his allies.

Elon Musk and other high-profile conservatives aggressively lobbied Republican senators to support her nomination.
Trump himself defended Gabbard’s foreign policy views, stating that her non-interventionist stance aligns with his own approach.
GOP senators who had initially expressed reservations about her nomination have now fallen in line, boosting her chances of confirmation.

Final Hurdles Before Confirmation

Gabbard’s nomination still faces challenges, including:

Senate floor debate ahead of the final vote.
Potential last-minute defections from key Republican senators.
Further scrutiny of her past statements and positions.

If confirmed, Gabbard will oversee the entire U.S. intelligence community, including:

The CIA
The NSA
The FBI’s national security division
The Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence branch

Her leadership will be closely watched, given her complex history on intelligence matters and her longstanding distrust of U.S. surveillance programs.

What’s Next?

The final Senate vote on Gabbard’s confirmation could happen as early as Wednesday.
If confirmed, she will become the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), overseeing all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies.
Her approach to foreign policy, surveillance, and intelligence operations will likely spark continued debate in Washington.

With her divisive track record and strong Trump backing, Gabbard’s tenure as DNI could reshape U.S. intelligence policy in ways that depart from traditional norms.