Tulsi Gabbard Faces Scrutiny Over Views in Senate Hearing for Intelligence Director Role

Gabbard, nominated by President Trump, defends her record as concerns grow over her past comments on Russia, Syria, and U.S. intelligence practices.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence, faced bipartisan criticism during her Senate confirmation hearing over her past remarks aligning with Russian narratives and her stance on U.S. foreign policy.
Democratic Senator Mark Warner questioned Gabbard's ability to gain the trust of U.S. allies, citing her past praise for Edward Snowden as a whistleblower and her skepticism about Assad's use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Gabbard denied accusations of political bias, emphasizing her commitment to depoliticizing intelligence operations and ensuring the independence of the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies she would oversee if confirmed.
Republican and Democratic senators challenged her on her views about whistleblowers and her reluctance to explicitly label Edward Snowden a traitor, though she stated she would not support pardoning him.
The Senate's narrow Republican majority of 53 seats means a few defections could block Gabbard's confirmation, as concerns persist about her ability to navigate sensitive intelligence relationships.