@-India-West News Desk       

WASHINGTON, DC – President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 13 his appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Once hailed as the Hindu congresswoman every Indian American loved, Gabbard’s political stances made the community somewhat wary lately but this may be her resurrection if she is sworn into office.

Among the rush of nominees, Gabbard’s and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl) for attorney general have raised hackles. There are concerns from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as from former national security officials with some calling for investigations into her suitability for the role.

Former national security adviser John Bolton suggested a formal FBI probe into Gabbard, arguing that her prior “Russian propaganda” statements posed a potential risk to national security. He added that Trump’s choice of Gabbard, who is an outsider to the intelligence community, signals that the U.S. is taking a non-traditional approach to intelligence.

Gabbard, who represented Hawaii as a Democratic congresswoman from 2013 to 2021, left the Democratic Party in 2022 and officially joined the GOP last month. Known for her opposition to U.S. military involvement abroad, she has been criticized for her sympathetic views toward leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. In 2017, she met with Assad in Syria, later stating he was “not the enemy of the United States.” Gabbard has also expressed skepticism about NATO’s expansion, suggesting the Ukraine conflict could have been avoided if the West had guaranteed Ukraine would not join NATO.

Trump lauded Gabbard’s military background as an Iraq veteran and current Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, describing her as a leader who would bring a “fearless spirit” to the role. However, her nomination has unsettled some foreign allies as well. A Western intelligence official warned that Gabbard’s leadership might prompt allies to reconsider intelligence-sharing arrangements with the U.S., even raising concerns from close partners such as Israel.

The Director of National Intelligence oversees the National Intelligence Program and advises the president on critical security matters. Gabbard, if confirmed, would advise Trump, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on national security issues.

However, her controversial views on U.S. foreign policy are expected to spark debate during her Senate confirmation hearings, with figures like Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) indicating they have “a lot of questions” about her suitability for the role.