President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, is faced with fresh scrutiny on Capitol Hill, over her connection to Syria, just as the country’s hardline Assad regime appeared to collapse.
The scrutiny comes amid growing concerns about her proximity to Russia’s ally, Syria, and her 2017 visit to the war-torn nation.
As Gabbard entered private meetings with senators to discuss her nomination, she ignored shouted questions about her controversial trip to Syria. The former Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel, however, took the opportunity to deliver a statement to the press.
In her remarks, she reiterated her support for Trump’s “America First” approach to national security and a more restrained US military presence overseas.
“I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said as she exited a Senate meeting.
Gabbard’s comments come at a time when Trump’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are drawing concern within his own Republican party, as well as from Democrats and others.
Her nomination, along with those of other Trump appointees like Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, has sparked debate in Washington ahead of confirmation hearings expected next year.
The incoming president is pushing forward with assembling his team to implement a bold agenda, which includes mass deportations of immigrants, firing federal workers, and rolling back US support for Ukraine and NATO allies. With a growing divide between Trump’s supporters and his critics, his nominees are facing difficult confirmation processes.
As Gabbard navigates the scrutiny of her appointment, the president-elect has also announced several other key appointments, including Harmeet Dhillon as assistant attorney general for civil rights and Mark Paoletta as general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget.
These appointments come as part of a broader effort to form a government that reflects Trump’s approach to reshaping US policies, including on national security.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth is reportedly gaining support from previously skeptical senators. Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and pledged not to consume alcohol if confirmed.
The senator’s position on these matters has helped improve his standing among key legislators. However, the nomination of Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has raised alarm bells, especially as Patel is known for his controversial stance on dismantling the Bureau and his past writings calling for the imprisonment of Trump’s political adversaries.
Senator Mike Rounds, R-S.D., welcomed Gabbard into his office Monday, signaling the intense and contentious discussions surrounding her nomination.
“We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” he said, referring to the meeting as part of the confirmation process.
Despite concerns, Trump’s allies remain confident about the eventual confirmation of all of his nominees.
“I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a social media post.
Amid these developments, nearly 100 former senior US diplomats, intelligence officials, and national security professionals have called for closed-door hearings on Gabbard’s nomination.
In a letter to Senate leaders, the group expressed alarm at her appointment, arguing that her past actions, including her controversial visit to Syria, could undermine her ability to lead the nation’s intelligence agencies and deliver unbiased briefings to the president and Congress.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which Gabbard is nominated to lead, was created after the September 11 attacks to coordinate the US intelligence agencies and serve as the president’s chief intelligence advisor. The importance of this role has made Gabbard’s past actions and statements a focal point of criticism.
Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria, during which she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, shocked many in Washington and raised questions about her alignment with Assad’s regime. The US had severed diplomatic relations with Syria, and Gabbard’s visit was seen by some as legitimising a leader who was accused of committing war crimes.
However, Gabbard defended the trip, arguing that it was important to open dialogue with all sides in a conflict. She has stated that her views have been shaped by her military experiences and her concern about the costs of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.
She said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Gabbard’s stance on US involvement in Syria and other international conflicts aligns with Trump’s position of reducing America’s military footprint abroad, a central tenet of his foreign policy.
While Gabbard’s past actions continue to draw criticism, her staunch opposition to US involvement in the Ukraine conflict has earned her praise from Trump’s supporters. Gabbard has been a vocal critic of US military aid to Ukraine, arguing that the resources could be better used to address domestic issues.
As Gabbard faces mounting pressure over her intelligence chief nomination, key figures within the Republican Party, such as Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, have signalled they are open to supporting her confirmation, as long as her commitment to reforming federal agencies remains clear.
“Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard represented Hawaii in Congress and ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. She left the Democratic Party and briefly became an independent before aligning herself with Trump’s 2024 campaign,” said Ernst, who also praised Gabbard’s responsiveness and respect for the confirmation process.
As the Senate prepares for the confirmation hearings of Gabbard and other key Trump appointees, the debate over their qualifications and the broader direction of US foreign policy is expected to intensify.
With opposition mounting both inside and outside of Washington, the outcome of these nominations could play a pivotal role in shaping the incoming administration’s approach to national security and international relations.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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