Eight Republican senators remain uncertain about supporting former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, casting doubt on her Senate confirmation, according to sources close to the Trump transition team. Concerns stem from her unconvincing responses during Capitol Hill meetings, her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and her limited intelligence experience.
Critics also point to her perceived softness on Russia, including opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine and comments aligning with Kremlin narratives. Nearly 100 former national security officials have urged closed Senate hearings to assess her qualifications.
Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning dismissed the concerns as baseless, emphasizing that no Republican senator has publicly opposed Gabbard. However, if eight Republicans vote against her, Trump would need five Democratic votes for confirmation, a challenging prospect given the GOP’s 53-47 Senate majority.
Some Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell, are seen as potential opposition, though none have publicly stated their stance. Gabbard has met with several key senators, including Republicans Rand Paul and Chuck Grassley and Democrats Jon Ossoff and John Fetterman, in an effort to secure support.
Supporters praise Gabbard’s alignment with Trump’s “America First” ideology and skepticism of U.S. military intervention. While some lawmakers initially leaned against her nomination, the mood has reportedly shifted to a more neutral tone, with fears of political retribution influencing decisions.
If confirmed, Gabbard would oversee the U.S. intelligence community and a $106 billion budget as the president’s top intelligence adviser. She remains optimistic about her chances.
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