Newsman: President-elect Donald Trump has pick former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for the position for director of the national intelligence agency. Gabbard, 43, who represented Hawaii as a Democrat from 2013-2021 and ran for the party’s presidential nomination in 2020 before becoming a Republican earlier this year.
Gabbard blamed the Biden administration and NATO, claiming they had provoked Russia’s aggression by ignoring what she called its “legitimate security concerns” about Ukraine potentially becoming a member of the defensive alliance.
In an interview with Fox News following her being named, Gabbard said that some of her former Democratic colleagues had reached out to her in what she hoped “could be and should be an effort for us to work together.” ore
“I’m actually pretty heartened,” Gabbard said.
In a statement announcing he had tapped her to lead the intelligence community, Trump lauded what described as “broad support in both Parties” for Gabbard.
“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength,” Trump posted on his social media platform. “Tulsi will make us all proud!”
If Gabbard becomes the director of national intelligence, she will oversee 18 U.S. intelligence agencies and play a critical role in determining what material is including in the president’s daily intelligence briefings.