Former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said she was “honored” and “eager to get to work” after President-elect Trump named her as the next director of national intelligence.
“I spoke with President Trump about what needs to be done, and was grateful and honored to accept President Trump’s offer to serve our country and, as Director, support President Trump’s goals to protect the safety, security and freedom of the American people,” she said. “He said. National Intelligence Service.”
Gabbard served four terms in the House of Representatives as a Democrat before running in the 2020 presidential Democratic primary. She left the party in 2022 but did not officially join Republican ranks until this year.
“What’s amazing is that what I want the American people to feel is hope. And honestly, Jessie, it’s heartwarming to see people continue to get involved even though the election is over. I’m really looking forward to ensuring that their voices continue to be heard in the months ahead as President Trump takes office and begins to lead this important change in our government,” Gabbard told Fox News’ Jesse Waters. It appears on the network Wednesday nights.
Trump’s selection of Rep. Gabbard and Rep. Matt Gatz (Republican, Florida) as attorney generals surprised Washington lawmakers.
“It started to get weird. At first it seemed like kind of standard Republican fare. And now we’re getting into interesting territory,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.).
“It’s kind of, ‘Who’s the last person you imagine that should be in that position?’ “It’s a kind of territory,” he added. “And… there could be potential problems with trying to get confirmation through the Senate.”
Gabbard, who supported Trump in August of this year, may face difficulties during the confirmation process. Her past comments on a variety of foreign policy issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle.
“Of course there will be resistance to change from the swamps of Washington. I think that’s the point of Americans saying, ‘Hey, stop looking at yourself.’ ‘Don’t focus on your power, your position or your bank account,’ Gabbard said when asked how Watters would deal with ‘resistance from within’.
She added, “What about having leaders in Washington who actually care about the American people and care about them across all issues?”
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