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A group of roughly 100 former national security officials have come out publicly to criticize President-elect Trump’s nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Roughly three weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and Army veteran, as Director of National Intelligence, sparking a heated debate over her qualifications. While critics have raised concerns about her lack of experience and controversial foreign policy stances, supporters argue that her status as an outsider to the intelligence community makes her uniquely positioned to bring reform and challenge the norms within the intelligence establishment.
What’s going on now: In a letter addressed to Senate leaders, nearly 100 former national security officials voiced strong opposition to Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence, raising concerns about her qualifications and judgment. They urged the Senate to “carefully evaluate” her suitability for the role and called for closed-door hearings to review classified information about her record. The officials argued that “several of Ms. Gabbard’s past actions call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and the entire national security apparatus.” Specifically, they highlighted her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and statements that echoed “Russian and Syrian talking points.”
The letter said that her actions “raise questions about her judgment and fitness” for the role and urged Senate committees to fully consider her ability to protect intelligence sources and maintain US alliances.
Who signed the letter: Notable signatories opposing Gabbard’s nomination include prominent figures from both Democratic and Republican administrations. Among them are Wendy Sherman, former Deputy Secretary of State under President Biden; John Bolton, who served as a National Security Advisor under the Trump administration; Ian Kelly, who served as US Ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and Trump administrations; and Eric Green, a National Security Council official during the Biden administration. The letter also includes signatures from retired military leaders, former CIA officers, and other senior officials with decades of experience in national security and intelligence.
Reactions from Capitol Hill: Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) defended Gabbard, calling her “a decorated combat veteran trying to save America from unnecessary foreign wars and end illegal government operations against the American people—which is exactly why they voted for Donald Trump.” Similarly, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) highlighted her outsider status, stating, “The uproar from the uniparty over Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence simply proves she’s the perfect choice.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has questioned Gabbard’s loyalty, referencing her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and suggesting that “the U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America’s foes.” Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has also voiced strong objections, stating she is “appalled” by the nomination.
