Senate votes to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as top U.S. intelligence official

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2025, 01:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: NBC News

Feb. 12, 2025, 11:50 AM EST / Updated Feb. 12, 2025, 12:40 PM EST


WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to be President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, putting the former congresswoman in charge of the sprawling U.S. intelligence community.

The 52-48 vote was largely along party lines, with nearly all Republicans present voting in favor of Gabbard. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former longtime GOP leader who has clashed with Trump, was the only Republican who joined all Democrats in voting against her.

Gabbard’s confirmation is a win for Trump and represents yet another example of his dominance over the GOP, where few have shown a willingness to step out of line.

After Trump announced Gabbard as his DNI pick in November, Democrats — and a handful of Republicans — voiced serious concerns about her 2017 secret meeting with then-President Bashar Assad of Syria; her sympathetic comments about Russia; her past efforts to repeal a powerful government surveillance tool, known as Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702; and her previous support for Edward Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked classified information to the press about those spying programs.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/senate-votes-confirm-tulsi-gabbard-top-us-intelligence-official-rcna191587

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Article updated.

Original article -

Feb. 12, 2025, 11:50 AM EST


WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled Senate early Wednesday morning voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to be President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, putting the former congresswoman in charge of the sprawling U.S. intelligence community.

The 52-48 vote was largely along party lines, with nearly all Republicans present voting in favor of Gabbard. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former longtime GOP leader who has clashed with Trump, was the only Republican who joined all Democrats in voting against her.

Gabbard’s confirmation is a win for Trump and represents yet another example of his dominance over the GOP, where few have shown a willingness to step out of line.

After Trump announced Gabbard as his DNI pick in November, Democrats — and a handful of Republicans — voiced serious concerns about her 2017 secret meeting with then-President Bashar Assad of Syria; her sympathetic comments about Russia; her past efforts to repeal a powerful government surveillance tool, known as Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702; and her previous support for Edward Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked classified information to the press about those spying programs.

[C_U_L8R]

1. No brain, no gain.

He gets the minions he deserves. Thank goodness they are as incompetent as they are corrupt.

[hueymahl]

11. We will see how incompetent and dumb she is

I don't think we should underestimate her.

[RVN VET71]

43. It's not her competence that worries me.

It's how badly she will trash American National Security and Intelligence using it.

[Jit423]

35. Putin must be very proud. nt

[Ocelot II]

2. Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen aren't available, so I guess Tulsi will have to do.

What a shame that those guys went to prison for espionage when what they really should have done was get themselves appointed DNI. Unfortunately, though, that takes all the fun out of being a spy for Russia - no dead drops, codes, clandestine meetings; just give GRU the login information for ODNI and head back to Hawaii to relax on the beach.

[Initech]

3. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Fuck Tulsi Gabbard to the hottest circle of hell!

[marble falls]

4. So there were Democrats who voted for her. What a disaster. Fortunately the Company knows how to work ...

... around an asshole President and his asshole director. They did it for four years ending eight years ago with this same President.

[IronLionZion]

7. All Dems voted against her plus we picked up Mitch McConnell

[marble falls]

22. I thought we behind only four in the House. I'm surprised - was McConnel the only one? I guess he found a conscience ...

... after he became a lame duck.

[IronLionZion]

25. Mitch was the only republican. he voted against others too like Hegseth

Trump and Musk have insulted his immigrant wife which might have something to do with it. Plus he's retiring soon.

[biophile]

8. It doesn't say if any Democrats voted for her

At 52-48 and McConnell voting against her, it looks like no Democrats voted for her? But I’d like to know who, if any Democrat did!

[LeftInTX]

14. Zero Democrats voted for her

[Wiz Imp]

15. Sheesh. ALL Democrats voted against her.

Why do so many people here insist on trashing Democrats? At least get your facts straight first.

[iemanja]

23. The article does say that none did.

[biophile]

50. Thank you - when I re read it, I saw the "all" in front of Democrats

Sorry I missed that 😏

[Lovie777]

5. We are not safe..............................

[underpants]

30. No, we're not

[IronLionZion]

6. Putin thanks MAGA voters for the classified intel

[returnee]

9. We can only hope the patriotic insiders...

…have some way of limiting the damage. This is a disaster of unmitigated proportions.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence

Putin is very happy. The GOP is the party of trump and Putin

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/senate-confirms-tulsi-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-rcna190841

The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence on Wednesday, elevating a former lawmaker with controversial foreign policy views to the head of the country’s spy agencies.

Gabbard was confirmed on a 52-48 vote. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was the only Republican to oppose Gabbard’s confirmation.

A former Democratic congresswoman turned Republican, Gabbard was initially considered a long shot for DNI given her history of going against U.S. intelligence consensus and her warm views on American adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin and now-deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

During her confirmation before the Senate Intelligence Committee in late January, Gabbard was grilled on her foreign policy views and her professed change of heart about a surveillance program she once tried to repeal as congresswoman. She also repeatedly declined to say if she believed Edward Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked highly classified documents, was a “traitor.”

[Lulu KC]

12. I am relieved to see that no Democrats voted yes

And Mitch voted no.

I'll take what I can get. I was a little bit afraid to open the count.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. Every single Senate Democrat voted against unqualified extremist Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intellig

Link to tweet

[Harker]

18. So did the married ones.

The fix is in.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. ...

[Wiz Imp]

16. We no longer have any NAtional Security.

All our national secrets will be automatically shared with Putin

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation is Russia's dream come true.

Link to tweet

[Native]

19. We are so fucked.

[FailureToCommunicate]

21. "Oh happy day! Spasibo Mr President!"

[GreenWave]

24. Another f'ing traitor to America.

[Historic NY]

26. I wouldn't want to be one of those unsung heros out on covert missions around the world..

[Irish_Dem]

27. Some of them are going to quit for sure.

[Voltaire2]

34. Many are foreign nationals and cannot 'quit'.

They will encounter windows.

[JohnSJ]

28. The Republican Party is a disgrace. They are an anti-American

group of fascists overwhelmingly working to destroy the country.

Anything bad that happens to these scum is well deserved.

[patphil]

29. I hear Putin is considering making today a national holiday.

[chowder66]

31. So I take it that the Nazi doesn't have anything on McConnell after all ...but I have to assume that all the R senators

are pedophiles because why else would they turn their backs on the USA?

[notinkansas]

32. A cabinet deliberately filled with the worst of the worst possible candidates.

Damn the republican senators who enabled this.

[Martin Eden]

36. KAKISTOCRACY

government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens

[Voltaire2]

33. A Russian Agent In Charge of Intelligence.

What could possibly go wrong.

If the script were flipped and a moderately left wing regime put a moderately left wing person in as DNI, I can assure you that the intelligence agencies would rather quickly find an open window.

(It would have to be moderately left, as an actual socialist regime would be eliminated before they took office.)

[DSandra]

42. After at least 25 years, it still holds true: IOKIYAAR

Even Insurrection and treason nowadays.

[mwooldri]

37. In Other News: Five Eyes becomes...

Four Eyes and a Black Eye.

I'm certain the UK, Canada, Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand) will decide that certain intelligence will not be shared with the United States.

And that's a big reason why Ms. Gabbard should not have been confirmed. Unless the MAGA Senators know something the international intelligence community doesn't.

[WestMichRad]

38. I expect that our allies will no longer share valuable intelligence with us.

Why would they?

[Calista241]

39. There's a pretty good chance she's a finalist for the Repub Presidential candidate in 2028.

[TommieMommy]

40. OMG 🙄 I don't trust her at all. She's another sleazy politician

[DSandra]

41. Wow, so I guess Russians will get to know all of America's secrets?

Russia will get to punish any leader in the future who is not friendly to Russia now, not to mention invade and directly control America if they so desire.

[Katinfl]

44. Whatever happens.........they own it completely.

Nothing good is going to come of these confirmations, and they own all of it. It’s all on them now. Unfortunately, we will all suffer.

[Botany]

45. Not to worry our new A.G. Pam ... 25 K from Trump in 2013 .... Bondi has it all taken care of.

Pam Bondi ends FBI effort to combat foreign influence in U.S. politics

The order also curbs prosecutions of Americans who improperly lobby for foreign
nations.

President Donald Trump says Republicans were unfairly targeted in the past.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bondi-ends-fbi-effort-combat-foreign-influence-us-politics-rcna191012

[FemDemERA]

46. When I read this, all I can think of is

How Hillary tried to warn us about this person and was trashed from both left and right.

[LivingInASociety]

47. I miss the days of huge Democratic majorities

I’m 62 and was thus too young to appreciate this in the Sixties. The most recent majorities don’t count because by that time the Repukes had learned how to use their minority against us.

I have my own thoughts about what atrocities may come of having this person in office, but don’t want to put that into the universe.

[Voltaire2]

49. One of the most interesting congress

was the post watergate congress. The large Democratic majority opened up investigations into what was going on with our intelligence agencies. A lot of dirty laundry got aired. That almost all ended with Reagan.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

48. The Kakistocracy rolls on

[buzzycrumbhunger]

51. JFC...

We truly live in Bizzarroworld.

[kimbutgar]

52. And the 🍑💩🤡 talking the SAME day with Putin!!!!

How coincidental!

[MustLoveBeagles]

53. I never liked her

Even when she was a Democrat. I didn't trust her at all. It looks like my instincts were right.

[DFW]

54. The NSC might as well have Putin on speaker phone when it convenes

If they haven’t started doing that already.