Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been named the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) by President-elect Donald Trump. However, like some of the other Republicans he has appointed recently, she too is a controversial candidate.
Gabbard, 43, has faced criticism not only for her lack of experience in this area but also for her past statements and divisive views on foreign policy. Throughout her time in politics, Gabbard has frequently questioned the effectiveness of military interventions. She believes that getting involved in conflicts overseas can sometimes lead to more problems rather than solving them.
She has also been seen as sympathetic to some authoritarian leaders. In 2017, when she was in Congress, she traveled to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. This meeting caused a lot of controversy, with many national intelligence experts and politicians criticizing her for engaging with someone accused of serious war crimes. Tulsi Gabbard justified the meeting by stating that establishing communication is essential if there’s any hope for peace.
Her views have consistently diverged from mainstream U.S. national security policies, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard called for the U.S. and its allies to recognize Ukraine’s neutrality, a stance that has garnered backlash from other lawmakers.
Tulsi Gabbard served in Congress from 2013 to 2021 and is notable for being the first Hindu elected to the U.S. Congress and the first member from the territory of American Samoa. Leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard has since aligned herself with conservative circles and publicly endorsed Trump this past August.