“He’s [Donald Trump] essentially pimping out our men and women in uniform to a foreign power who’s the highest bidder… He is unfit to be our commander-in-chief.” These were the words of Tusli Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, back in 2019. Clearly Ms. Gabbard’s loyalties have drastically changed since then.

Ms. Gabbard started public life by getting elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2002 at the age of 21. She had to step down from the role in 2003, as her National Guard regiment was called for duty in Iraq. She would later serve in Kuwait and work her way up the ranks to the post of Lieutenant Colonel in 2021.

Conflicting policies

She started her tenure in the U.S. Congress as a Democrat, representing Hawaii’s second congressional district, in 2013. She was also the first Hindu in the U.S. Congress. Her political portfolio has been marked by diverse but often conflicting policies. Ms. Gabbard, perhaps owing to her time in the Army, has been a strong advocate against U.S. military interventionism. The New Yorker once quoted her as saying “If our troops are sent to fight a war, it must be the last option.” Not the first.”

One such ‘intervention’ Ms. Gabbard once decried was Mr. Trump’s push for escalating the war in Syria. In 2018, she accused Mr. Trump and then Vice-President Mike Pence of protecting “al-Qaeda and other jihadist forces in Syria,” all the while “threatening Russia, Syria, and Iran, with military force if they dare attack these terrorists.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ms. Gabbard spoke about the “legitimate” security concerns Russia had if Ukraine were to join NATO. “This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” she posted on Twitter (now X) at the time. She also gave value to Russia’s claims that Ukraine was using U.S. funded labs to create deadly bioweapons. Her sympathetic position on Russia had even earned her praise on Russian state TV, while domestically she has been perceived as indiscriminately believing Russian propaganda.

Similarly With respect to Syria, Ms. Gabbard has been accused of cosying up to ‘dictators’ such as Bashar al-Assad. As a member of Congress in 2017, Ms. Gabbard once moved outside of official channels to meet the Syrian leader in 2017. The meeting kicked up a storm among her then-fellow Democrats who said that she was giving legitimacy to a leader accused of various war crimes.

However, the former Congresswoman has taken a tough line on Islamist extremism. She has condemned al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and more recently Hamas. Such a diverse portfolio does make it difficult for Ms. Gabbard to fit in perfectly with either of the political parties —Democrats or Republicans.

Breaking loose

Ms. Gabbard’s allegiances have undergone a 180-degree shift. In 2016, Ms. Gabbard endorsed Bernie Sanders for President over Hillary Clinton. In 2020, she unsuccessfully ran for Democratic nomination and later endorsed Joe Biden. And in 2022, she left the Democratic Party, accusing them of being an “elitist cabal of warmongers” driven by “cowardly wokeness“. She then registered as an independent and became a frequent contributor to Fox News wherein she espoused conservative ideas about gender and freedom of speech. And earlier this year, she joined the Republican party and endorsed Donald Trump for President.

While her nomination as Director of National Intelligence needs Senate confirmation, Ms. Gabbard’s selection has already created controversy citing her past political positions and her lack of experience. According to CNN, Ms. Gabbard was briefly placed on a Transportation Security Administration list that prompts additional security screening before flights after her overseas travel patterns and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm. And now by being director, she will oversee agencies such as the CIA, the FBI and the NSA.

This is of particular interest as Ms. Gabbard has been a fierce defender of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, both men who have been accused by the U.S. government of leaking national secrets to the public. It remains to be seen how she makes sense of her position as both a defender of whistleblowers and as protector of national intelligence.

New Delhi:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today congratulated former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard who will take charge of America’s most sensitive secrets as Director of National Intelligence. Ms Sitharaman also recalled her “few interactions” with Ms Gabbard that left her impressed.

“For 21 years you served the USA as a soldier becoming a Lt. Colonel in Army Reserve. In my few interactions with you, have been impressed by the clarity of your thoughts and dedication. Good wishes,” the 65-year-old posted on X.

Congratulations @TulsiGabbard on being selected to serve as Director of National Intelligence. For 21 yrs you served the USA as a soldier becoming a Lt. Colonel in Army Reserve. In my few interactions with you, have been impressed by the clarity of your thoughts and dedication.… pic.twitter.com/b5LSZyx9F9

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 15, 2024

Tulsi Gabbard, who switched sides from the Democrats to back Donald Trump’s reelection, would in her new role oversee the coordination of the 18 intelligence agencies.

US President-elect Donald Trump has handed top roles for his future White House to a mix of political allies, firebrands and a few relatively conventional figures. RFK Jr (Health Secretary), Elon Musk (Government Efficiency), Pete Hegseth (Defense Secretary) and Mike Waltz (National Security Advisor) were among the key nominations.

Several of his choices – including TV news anchor Hegseth at the helm of the Pentagon and Matt Gaetz, an ally embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations for attorney general, – have unnerved the Washington establishment.

Some of the key nominations would require potentially difficult Senate confirmations unless Trump can circumvent scrutiny through a process called recess appointments.

Tulsi Gabbard has echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points about the invasion of Ukraine. The 43-year-old, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, has been criticising US President Joe Biden for his support for Ukraine.

She also spoke out against U.S. military intervention in the civil war in Syria under former President Barack Obama and met in 2017 with Moscow-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with whom Washington severed all diplomatic ties in 2012.

Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris comfortably last week, will return to Washington in January after becoming the first Republican to secure the popular vote since George W Bush in 2004.

Washington:

Donald Trump did not lose a minute to assemble his new cabinet ministers, but that has received quite extreme reactions. The structure of Trump 2.0 White House has left leaders “stunned” and “appalled”, with some of his choices even rubbing Republicans the wrong way. George Conway, a lawyer and activist said that Trump’s nominations, “would arguably have been the worst in American history”.

Tulsi Gabbard – Director of National Intelligence

Photo Credit: Reuters

Trump’s decision to nominate Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence has raised concerns among national security experts. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, lacks formal intelligence experience, sparking worries about her ability to lead the intelligence community.

Her background is marked by a significant shift in political allegiance, having run for president in the Democratic primaries in 2020, only to leave the party in 2022 and endorse Trump. This drastic change has led some to question her suitability for the role.

Gabbard’s experience includes serving on the House Committee on Homeland Security for two years, but she has never held a senior government position or worked directly in intelligence. Her anti-interventionist stance, advocating for US non-involvement in global conflicts, has also been at odds with the US Intelligence Community’s decisions.

The nomination has been met with scepticism from some members of Congress, including Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer, who expressed her dismay on social media. 

“Not only is [Gabbard] ill-prepared and unqualified, but she traffics in conspiracy theories and cosies up to dictators like Bashar-al Assad and Vladimir Putin,” Spanberg said.

Jamie Metzl, a former Clinton administration official said, “If you are part of a foreign government, even an allied government, are you really going to want to share your most important intelligence with the United States government, recognizing that there are people who are at central nodes in our government who are so sympathetic to our adversaries?” he asked. “It’s really concerning.”

With Gabbard’s unconventional background and shifting political loyalties, concerns about her ability to effectively lead the intelligence community remain.

Matt Gaetz – Attorney General

Photo Credit: Reuters

Matt Gaetz, a U.S. congressman from Florida since 2017, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for attorney general, sparking controversy due to pending allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. 

Gaetz resigned from his House seat just hours after Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, amid a scheduled House Ethics Committee vote on releasing the results of an extensive investigation into these allegations, which Gaetz denies.

As attorney general, Gaetz would oversee the Justice Department, which has been investigating him for years on sex trafficking and obstruction of justice allegations. 

Notably, Gaetz was informed last year that he wouldn’t face charges, but the House ethics investigation remains ongoing.

The nomination caught fellow Republicans off guard, with CNN reporting an “audible gasp” from House Republicans during a closed-door meeting when the news broke.

“I was shocked at the nomination,” Senator Susan Collins said when she first heard about the announcement.

Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said, “Do you think he’s a serious candidate? Not as far as I’m concerned.”

Gaetz’s appointment has raised concerns, given the serious allegations against him and the significant role of the attorney general in leading the Justice Department. Trump’s decision to nominate Gaetz highlights the contentious nature of his cabinet selections following his presidential election victory against Democrat Kamala Harris.

Robert F Kennedy Jr – Health Secretary

Photo Credit: Reuters

Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services has sparked widespread criticism due to Kennedy’s history of promoting debunked health-related conspiracy theories, particularly his anti-vaccine stance. 

As a member of one of America’s most prominent political families, being the son of late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, his views have drawn significant attention.

He is anti-vaccination and has claimed vaccines are linked to autism, despite evidence disproving this claim. He advocates for removing fluoride from public drinking water, contrary to CDC recommendations that highlight its benefits in preventing cavities and promoting oral health. 

He also supports the consumption of raw milk and the use of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, both of which have been disputed by health experts. Kennedy has also made unusual claims about his own health, including having a brain worm which “ate a portion of it and then died”.

Public Citizen, a non-profit, progressive consumer rights advocacy group, said, “Robert F Kennedy Jr is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health. He shouldn’t be allowed in the building at the department of health and human services (HHS), let alone be placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.”

These views have raised concerns about Kennedy’s potential impact on the nation’s health policies, especially considering his plans to tackle America’s substance abuse crisis, an issue he has personal experience with, as he was addicted to heroin for 14 years during his youth.

Pete Hegseth – Defense Secretary

Photo Credit: X account of @PeteHegseth

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host, as his Secretary of Defense, despite Hegseth’s past criticism of Trump’s foreign policy and military stances during the 2016 campaign. Hegseth had called Trump’s foreign policy views “shallow” but later became a strong supporter.

Hegseth’s nomination is notable, given his unconventional background for the role. He has served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning several awards, including the Bronze Star Medal. 

However, his views on certain issues may raise concerns. For instance, Hegseth opposes women serving in combat roles, arguing it lowers military standards and effectiveness. “Women shouldn’t be in combat at all. They’re life-givers, not life-takers. I know a lot of wonderful soldiers, female soldiers, who have served, who are great. But they shouldn’t be in my infantry battalion,” he told Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator in an interview.

He supports troops accused or convicted of war crimes and has advocated for their pardon. He also wants to fire senior officers who support “woke policies”.

Given these stances, Hegseth may face a challenging confirmation process in the Senate. His nomination has already sparked controversy, highlighting the need for careful consideration of his qualifications and views. 

“He is the least qualified person in history of the job,” said a former defence official from Trump’s administration.

As a Fox News personality, Hegseth has been vocal about his opinions, but as Secretary of Defense, his decisions would have far-reaching implications for national security.
 

Tulsi Gabbard. File
| Photo Credit: AP

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) chose former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence under his administration. Mr. Trump stated, “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., as per news agency AP.

The Republican president-elect Mr. Trump went on to add that Ms. Gabbard, a veteran and one-time Democratic White House contender, would “bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community.” Here’s a closer look at Tulsi Gabbard

Who is Tulsi Gabbard- First Hindu elected to Congress?

Born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa, Ms. Gabbard (43) was raised in Hawaii and spent a year of her childhood in the Philippines. She was first elected as a 21-year-old to Hawaii’s House of Representatives but had to leave after one term when her National Guard unit deployed to Iraq. Ms. Gabbard was later elected to Congress to represent Hawaii. Later, she became the first Hindu and American Samoan in Congress, representing Hawaii, and was sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text. She was also the first American Samoan elected to Congress.

Serving four terms, Ms. Gabbard spoke out against her party’s leadership and gained popularity by supporting Senator Bernie Sanders ’ in his 2016 Democratic presidential primary run.

Left Democratic party and served in Army National Guard

A four-term Congresswoman, 2020 presidential candidate and NYT bestselling author, Ms. Gabbard is a veteran with three deployments to war zones in the Middle East and Africa.

Ms. Gabbard is a veteran who served for more than two decades but doesn’t have the typical intelligence experience of past officeholders. She left the Democratic Party in 2022 and endorsed Mr. Trump earlier this year, becoming popular among his supporters.

Ms. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider, compared to her predecessor. She received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III,” the Hawaii National Guard said.

Unlike past directors, she hasn’t held any senior government roles. She served for two years on the House Homeland Security Committee.

She is married to cinematographer Abraham Williams.

Trump’s endorsement

Ms. Gabbard switched sides from the Democrats and backed Mr. Trump earlier this year, helping him during his debate preparations against Kamala Harris, and had been expecting a reward for lining up behind the former President. Ms. Gabbard’s endorsement of Mr. Trump this year significantly boosted her standing among his supporters.

Frequently appearing with Robert F Kennedy Jr, Ms. Gabbard exemplified Mr. Trump’s claimed cross-party appeal. The former Hawaii congresswoman also publicly announced her Republican Party membership at a North Carolina rally in October, describing the Democratic Party as “completely unrecognizable”.

(With AP inputs)

Donald Trump named former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, Left, as his incoming Director of National Intelligence and Senator Marco Rubio, Right, as secretary of state.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Donald Trump on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) named former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard as his incoming Director of National Intelligence and Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state.

Ms. Gabbard had opposed U.S. support for Ukraine and met Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad.

Mr. Trump aside critics in his party to put the outspoken hawk, Mr. Rubio in charge of U.S. foreign policy.

The Republican President-elect said Ms. Gabbard, a veteran and one-time Democratic White House contender, would “bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community.”

Ms. Gabbard thanked Trump “for the opportunity to serve as a member of your cabinet to defend the safety, security and freedom of the American people. I look forward to getting to work.”

The former Hawaii congresswoman switched sides from the Democrats and backed Mr. Trump earlier this year, helping him during his debate preparations against Kamala Harris, and had been expecting a reward for lining up behind the former President.

She has long held isolationist foreign policy views and embraced a number of conspiracy theories.

Ms. Gabbard made false claims in 2022 about there being US-sponsored biolabs in Ukraine — a key trope of Russian propaganda justifying Moscow’s invasion that year.

She demanded U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq and Syria during her 2020 presidential run.

In 2019, Hillary Clinton said that Russia was grooming a U.S. Democratic candidate for a third-party run, in comments that were apparently directed at Gabbard — and strongly rejected by her.

Ms. Gabbard also had a controversial 2017 meeting with Syria’s Assad at the height of the country’s bloody civil war.

Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants to Miami and vociferous opponent of Latin American communists, China and Iran, would be the first Hispanic as the top U.S. diplomat.

Mr. Trump, who clashed bitterly with Mr. Rubio for the Presidential nomination in 2016, said in a statement nominating him: “Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom.”

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Rubio said in a statement that he will work with Mr. Trump “every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda.”

“Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else,” Mr. Rubio said in a statement.

After reports of Rubio’s announcement first circulated on Monday (November 11, 2024), Mr. Trump faced calls from leading non-interventionist Republicans to reconsider.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally on August 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona, U.S.A.
| Photo Credit: AP

Donald Trump has added former White House hopefuls Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team if he wins November’s U.S. presidential election, his campaign said on Tuesday (August 27, 2024).

Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Gabbard hail from outside the Republican party sphere where former President Trump draws most of his support.

“As President Trump’s broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team,” Mr. Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes said in a statement.

Mr. Kennedy, 70, an environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist and descendent of a Democratic political dynasty, was running as an independent presidential candidate until he suspended his campaign last week and endorsed Mr. Trump. He joined the race for the White House as a Democratic challenger to Biden before switching to run as an independent.

A former Democratic congresswoman, Ms. Gabbard ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. She left the party in 2022 to become an independent. Increasingly critical of Mr. Biden and his administration, she is now popular among conservatives, frequently appearing as a guest on far-right TV and radio shows.

In an interview posted on X on Monday, Mr. Kennedy told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson he had been asked to join Mr. Trump’s transition team “to help pick the people who will be running the government.”

In exchange for endorsing Mr. Trump, Mr. Kennedy is hoping for a job in a potential Trump administration, a super PAC supporting Mr. Kennedy told Reuters last week.

Strategists have said it was unclear how Mr. Kennedy’s endorsement would help Mr. Trump, who is in a tight contest with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Voter interest in Mr. Kennedy waned this summer as Mr. Trump survived an assassination attempt and Mr. Biden passed the campaign torch to Ms. Harris.

Michigan:

 Former US congresswoman, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 announced her endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential polls in November, The Hill reported.

Gabbard, who has become a regular presence in conservative media, announced a National Guard Association gathering in Michigan where Trump was also speaking.

“This administration has us facing multiple wars on multiple fronts in regions around the world, and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before,” Gabbard said.

“This is one of the main reasons why I am committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House, where he can once again serve us as our commander-in-chief,” she added.

Notably, Gabbard ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign in the Democratic primary in 2020. After ending her bid, she exited Congress, left the Democratic Party and appeared at events like the Conservative Political Action Conference, The Hill reported.

The former congresswoman has huddled with Trump in recent weeks as part of preparations for next month’s scheduled debate between Trump and Vice President Harris.

Arguably the most notable moment of Gabbard’s unsuccessful 2020 White House bid was when she attacked Vice President Harris on the debate stage over her record as a prosecutor.

Gabbard’s endorsement comes days after Robert F Kennedy Jr suspended his independent White House bid and backed Trump, which the former president’s campaign touted as a significant development in battleground states.

This comes days after the New York Times reported that Trump has brought in Tulsi Gabbard to help sharpen his attacks in the debate against Kamala Harris.

Gabbard reportedly joined Trump’s practice session at the latter’s private club and home, Mar-a-Lago. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are set to face off in the ABC News debate on September 10.

Notably, Gabbard brings some key qualities to Trump’s role: She’s a woman, at a moment when Trump is for a second time facing a woman as his general election rival; she’s a former House member, giving her policy experience; and, perhaps most importantly for Trump, she has been on a debate stage with Harris and delivered a stinging attack against her record as a prosecutor, New York Times reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

“Donald Trump does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisers and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard,” a spokesperson said. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Gearing up for his debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump has brought in the former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to help sharpen his attacks, the New York Times reported citing two people aware with Trump’s schedule.

She joined the former president Trump’s practice session at the latter’s private club and home, Mar-a-Lago. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are set to face off in the ABC News debate on September 10.

Ms. Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party after her 2020 presidential run and has rebranded herself as a celebrity among Mr. Trump’s base of support, has long been friendly with Mr. Trump and was also speculated to be his running mate for some time.

Also Read: Trump season: On the 2024 U.S. Presidential election

Ms. Gabbard’s involvement in Mr. Trump’s debate preparation was partly because of her own performance in a 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, when Ms. Gabbard eviscerated Ms. Harris in a memorable onstage encounter.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, confirmed Ms. Gabbard’s involvement in an email, NYT reported. Ms. Leavitt said the former President has “proven to be one of the best debaters in political history as evidenced by his knockout blow to Joe Biden. He does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisers and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard, who successfully dominated Kamala Harris on the debate stage in 2020.”

Though Mr. Trump says he “doesn’t need to” prepare for debates, the former President has spent more time this year practising for debates than he did in either 2016 or 2020, the New York Times reported citing advisers who have worked with him. He still doesn’t do traditional debate prep. Nobody played Mr. Biden in his sessions ahead of their CNN debate on June 27.

Ahead of his CNN debate with Mr. Biden in June, Mr. Trump sat with advisers for blocks of time or informally on plane trips and discussed potential topics and lines of questioning. In more formal sessions at Mar-a-Lago, aides have sat in chairs opposite him, playing the role of moderators. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida asked especially combative questions, according to a person in the room.

Also Read: Healing a nation: On Kamala Harris and the U.S. Presidential race

Other lawmakers, including his eventual running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, have also spent time with Mr. Trump on policy topics. Joe Biden’s halting and disjointed performance in his June debate with Mr. Trump ultimately led him to him dropping out of the race. Mr. Trump’s aides are expected to handle preparations similarly for his debate with Ms. Harris, scheduled for September 10, NYT reported.

Notably, Ms. Gabbard brings some key qualities to Mr. Trump’s role: She’s a woman, at a moment when Mr. Trump is for a second time facing a woman as his general election rival; she’s a former House member, giving her policy experience; and, perhaps most importantly for Mr. Trump, she has been on a debate stage with Ms. Harris and delivered a stinging attack against her record as a prosecutor, New York Times reported.

However, Ms. Gabbard’s attacks on Ms. Harris in the July 2019 debate, all came from the left. She alleged that Ms. Harris, when she was a district attorney in San Francisco, “put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.” She also accused Ms. Harris of having obstructed evidence that could have let an innocent man leave death row, doing so only when a court “forced her to.”

Ms. Harris, on the other hand, replied that she was “proud of making a decision to not just give fancy speeches, or be in a legislative body and give speeches on the floor, but actually doing the work.” Following the debate, Ms. Harris mocked Ms. Gabbard’s low standing in the polls. Eventually, Ms. Harris dropped out of that race in December 2019, and Ms. Gabbard did the same months later, in March 2020.