What is the director of national intelligence’s role? Tulsi Gabbard’s new position previously held by John Ratcliffe
TULSI Gabbard has been nominated to be Donald Trump's director of national intelligence after she made a shocking u-turn against the Democrats.
The former presidential nominee is expected to hold a wealth of power, as she would oversee the nation's spy agency and serve as a top advisor for Trump.
TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE
Gabbard's nomination may seem surprising because of her limited experience, but Trump stressed before taking office that he wanted a loyal cabinet.
He previously admitted to podcaster Joe Rogan that in 2016, "I picked a few people that I shouldn't have picked."
He slammed "neocons" for being "disloyal" and has since swayed to more independent thinkers like Robert Kennedy Jr.
Gabbard, a veteran who served for 20 years, was a Democrat representative for Hawaii but made a shocking u-turn when she started supporting Trump in 2024.
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Gabbard had even helped him prepare for his debate with Kamala Harris, whom Tulsi had previously faced during the Democratic primary in 2020.
She endorsed Joe Biden for president for that election, but two years later, she slammed the Democrats as an "elitist cabal of warmongers" and registered as an independent.
Now, she's advocating to end wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and keeping American soldiers out of conflict.
GABBARD'S NEW ROLE
Gabbard is the second woman to step into one of the most prestigious and important government roles after Biden appointed Avril Haines in 2021.
She will oversee 18 different intelligence agencies and will have an eyewatering budget of $70 billion to spend.
The role was first created after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
The Director of National Intelligence is charged with preventing the spread of false information by other countries, countering terrorism, and combating cyber threats.
Trump's pick of Gabbard is part of his attempt to have Trump loyalists at the top of the American government.
During Trump’s first term, John Ratcliffe, a former US representative for Texas, held the position of director of national intelligence.
Ratcliffe will have another major role in Trump’s second administration, as the President-elect has nominated him for the position of director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
SHOCK CHOICE
During her successful military career, Gabbard rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the National Guard and was awarded a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for fighting through hostile fire in Iraq.
However, she doesn't have experience in national security roles and only served two years on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Gabbard has some experience with international relations. In 2017, she met with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and said that “Syria is not the enemy of the United States.”
She has also been a vocal critic of American support for Ukraine.
Though some questions have been raised about Gabbard's lack of experience, Republicans have locked arms to support the nominee.
Trump has said that she will “bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community.”
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Gabbard will need the support of the Senate if she wants to be confirmed for the role.
However, the odds look good for her since a Republican majority will control the upper chamber.