Tulsi Gabbard Goes On Offense To Save Her Troubled Nomination To Be Director Of National Intelligence

Political pundits believe Tulsi Gabbard‘s nomination as director of national intelligence is in trouble after her initial meetings with senators last week, which did not go well. So far, she has avoided the media firestorms that sunk Matt Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general and is threatening Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.

The collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime has brought light to Gabbard’s past support of the dictator again. Gabbard’s 2017 visit to Syria, years after he gassed his people and the comments she’s made defending his rule, reflect highly unconventional foreign policy views.

But Gabbard and her GOP allies are ready to confront her critics.

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton has commented on Gabbard’s actions, saying she has “an inclination to believe the most outrageous propaganda against the United States by some of its strongest enemies.” He went on to say she may view American foreign policy as a “funhouse of mirrors.”

The Trump team has been aggressive in its pushback. “John Bolton is irrelevant, and him saying he would write in Dick Cheney for president this year should tell you everything you need to know about his disastrous failed foreign policy instinct of never-ending wars and more American deaths,” said transition spokesperson Alexa Henning.

Despite initial reactions against Gabbard, the Trump team is standing behind her.

MAGA Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) have publicly backed her, though most senators have promised to keep an open mind through the confirmation process.