Trump nominates Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii and the first Hindu elected to the U.S. Congress, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Gabbard, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and a veteran of the Iraq War, made headlines earlier this year when she switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, endorsing Trump and campaigning for Indian American support.

In announcing her nomination, Trump praised Gabbard for her “fearless spirit,” noting her years of service and commitment to national security. "Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

As DNI, Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies, including the National Counterterrorism Center and the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center. The director’s key role includes preparing daily intelligence briefings for the President and coordinating efforts to address global security threats.

Gabbard, who resigned from the Democratic National Committee in 2016 over the party's treatment of Bernie Sanders, has since become a vocal critic of the Democratic establishment. Her nomination follows her political evolution from a left-leaning Democrat to a staunch Republican, which has drawn both support and criticism. Gabbard’s Hindu faith has also sparked controversy, with some critics accusing her of ties to Hindu nationalist groups.

Despite the political friction, Gabbard's nomination is expected to pass smoothly in the Republican-controlled Senate. She will join Arati Prabhakar, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, as the second Hindu American in a U.S. cabinet-level position.