Tulsi Gabbard sworn in as Director of National Intelligence at White House
President Donald Trump’s new Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, was officially sworn in at the White House on Wednesday after being confirmed by the Senate in a 52-48 vote. The confirmation vote was mostly along party lines, with the exception of former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who opposed Gabbard’s nomination.
During her swearing-in ceremony, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the importance of quickly confirming the president’s Cabinet nominees, praising Gabbard as an exceptionally qualified choice for the role. Leavitt also highlighted the efforts of Chairman Tom Cotton and Vice President JD Vance in securing party support for Gabbard’s confirmation.
Despite facing scrutiny over her past meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her stance on FISA Section 702, and her support for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Gabbard was able to address these concerns and garner enough support for her confirmation. McConnell, however, criticized her judgment and opposed her nomination, stating that the nation should not have to worry about tainted intelligence assessments.
Gabbard is now the 14th Cabinet official to be confirmed in Trump’s second term, with the controversial pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) set to face a confirmation vote early Thursday morning. Kennedy, who has faced his own share of controversies, cleared his last procedural hurdle on Wednesday afternoon.
As Trump’s administration continues to push through its Cabinet nominations, the confirmation of Gabbard as DNI marks a significant step in solidifying the president’s team. With key officials now in place, the administration can focus on tackling national security challenges and advancing its policy agenda.
Julia Johnson, a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, will be closely following the developments in the Senate and providing updates on the confirmation process. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest political news and developments.
