Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence


What happened
The Senate Wednesday confirmed Tulsi Gabbard, the controversial former Democratic lawmaker who became an ardent Donald Trump supporter, as director of national intelligence in a 52-48 vote. Only one Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), joined the Democrats in voting against her. She was sworn in Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office.
Who said what
Gabbard, 43, was confirmed despite "concerns among some GOP senators over her qualifications, her past favorable comments about foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and her refusal to firmly condemn" NSA leaker Edward Snowden, The Wall Street Journal said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said if the Senate had voted by secret ballot, Gabbard "would get no more than 10 votes."
McConnell — "one of the last sitting GOP lawmakers who has exhibited a willingness to buck Trump," The Washington Post said — called it an "unnecessary risk" to confirm as DNI someone with Gabbard's history of "alarming lapses in judgment." At her swearing-in, Trump said she was a "courageous and often lonely voice" who would be "clear-eyed" and "focused on the threat of radical Islamic terrorism and lots of other threats too, threats from within."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Gabbard will oversee the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies and set "broad goals for collecting intelligence," but there are limits to her "power and influence," The New York Times said. Her "most important job, arguably," is overseeing the president's daily intelligence briefing, and Trump will now have "someone aligned with his foreign policy views supervising those updates."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
How would the Trump administration denaturalize immigrant citizens?
Today's Big Question Using civil courts lowers the burden of proof
-
'Trucking is a dangerous business'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities