President-elect Donald J. Trump announced nominations on Tuesday for former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and current Senator Marco Rubio. Gabbard will be nominated as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI), while Rubio has been tapped for Secretary of State. If confirmed, Gabbard will oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and become a key figure in shaping the administration’s national security priorities.
“For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans,” Trump said in a statement released by his transition team. “As a former candidate for the Democrat presidential nomination, she has broad support in both parties. She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength.”
Gabbard, a four-term congresswoman from Hawaii, gained national attention for her outspoken positions on foreign policy and military intervention, often bucking party orthodoxy during her time in the Democratic Party. She left the Democratic Party in 2022, citing concerns over “woke and elitist” leadership. Her independent streak and willingness to challenge her own party earned her a bipartisan reputation, though it also alienated her from some former allies.
Gabbard’s career trajectory is nothing short of unconventional. Her tenure in Congress was marked by a focus on foreign affairs, veterans’ issues, and civil liberties. Gabbard was an early and vocal critic of U.S. interventions in Iraq and Syria, advocating instead for a more restrained foreign policy. During her 2020 presidential run, she was an outlier on the debate stage, often clashing with Democratic heavyweights on military and intelligence issues.
Trump’s selection of Gabbard, who was once a rising star in the Democratic Party, appears aimed at projecting an image of bipartisanship. However, the choice also reflects the president-elect’s preference for figures who, like Gabbard, challenge the status quo and bring a nonconventional approach to governance.
As the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard would be tasked with coordinating intelligence efforts across multiple agencies, advising the president on security threats, and navigating complex international challenges. In a statement accepting the nomination, Gabbard pledged to prioritize national security while safeguarding Americans’ constitutional freedoms.
