President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. This means she will oversee 17 US intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in the US Congress between 2013 and 2021, has long criticized US military interventions and the Biden administration’s foreign policy. In 2022, she left the Democratic Party, describing them as “elitist warmongers“, and endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign.
In August 2024, Gabbard claimed that the Biden administration placed her on a “secret terror list” following her public criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris. She described the move as a “political retaliation”.
Trump expressed great confidence in Gabbard’s “fearless spirit” and commitment to “peace through strength” and emphasized that he believes her leadership will benefit the intelligence community.
Her nomination is expected to face scrutiny during the Senate approval process, given her controversial positions and past contacts with foreign leaders. However, with Republicans in the majority in the Senate, 52-48, her confirmation looks set to go through without major hurdles.
Gabbard will take over the role from Avril Haines, who has held the position since January 2021. Haines, the first woman to hold the post, has faced criticism during her tenure for the handling of intelligence related to foreign interference in US elections, as well as for alleged lack of transparency in some intelligence matters.
