President-elect Donald Trump has selected Tulsi Gabbard, a military veteran and former honorary co-chair of his transition team, as his director of national intelligence.
Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, previously represented Hawaii in Congress for eight years and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Her alliance with Trump has been seen as unconventional, having served as an adviser during his debate preparation against Kamala Harris, with whom Gabbard had previously clashed during the 2020 Democratic primaries.
In a recent interview with NewsNation, Gabbard expressed her readiness to serve in the Trump administration, stating it would be an “honor” and emphasizing her commitment to global security. “If there’s a way I can help achieve the goal of preventing World War III and nuclear war? Of course,” she remarked, underscoring her stance that war must always be a “last resort.”
Gabbard criticized Trump’s previous administration for being influenced by “neocons” who, she said, sought to perpetuate ongoing conflicts. “Trump ended up with some neocons around him who were trying to undermine his objectives so they could feed their goals of continuing to keep us in a perpetual state of war,” she noted. Reflecting on current global tensions, Gabbard stated, “This administration has us facing multiple wars on multiple fronts and regions around the world and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before.” Her endorsement of Trump at a campaign event in Michigan reiterated her resolve to see him return to the White House as commander-in-chief.
Throughout Trump’s campaign, Gabbard has maintained a visible presence, moderating town halls, participating in Women for Trump events, and engaging with supporters at Mar-a-Lago. Her involvement signals a shift in the coalition surrounding Trump, with figures like Gabbard and former Democratic and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighting a broadening base.
