Concerns have been raised around the world about Donald Trump’s choice of Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence.
The former Army lieutenant colonel was tipped for the senior national security role after becoming a Trump ally – which would see her oversee the 18 US intelligence agencies.
The 43-year-old formally announced she had joined the Republican Party during a campaign rally alongside Trump in the summer.
Ms. Gabbard has repeated Russian propaganda about Ukrainian “biolaboratories,” defended Moscow’s case for war and twice met with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after dismissing reports of his use of chemical weapons.
Now her appointment has fueled fears about a possible decline in intelligence sharing.
Former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, told the story The Telegraph: ‘This is a non-conformist agreement. She has no experience in intelligence and security. We’ll have to see how this plays out once she gets to work.”
Meanwhile, Philip Ingram, former British Army senior intelligence and security officer, said: “I think appointing someone with no intelligence experience as director of national intelligence should be a red flag.”
A Western intelligence source told Politico that Mr. Gabbard’s appointment could impact intelligence sharing within the Five-Eyes benefit.
Donald Trump has nominated former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence
Gabbard announced this summer, together with Donald Trump, that she would join the Republican Party
And Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of NATO’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear battalion, said the US-Britain alliance could be affected by the decision.
A lifelong Democrat, Gabbard served in the party as a U.S. Representative from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She rose to national prominence during her unsuccessful 2020 Democratic primary.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022 and announcing her switch to the Republican Party two years later, Gabbard became a supporter and surrogate for Trump.
She became co-chair of Trump’s transition team following his historic victory in the presidential election on November 5.
Gabbard has been vocal about her criticism of the “weaponization” of the intelligence community — especially under President Joe Biden’s administration against Trump and his inner circle.
She claims Democrats believe US intelligence agencies are capable of acting without oversight and “screwing” Americans with whom they disagree.
“I’ll never forget when Chuck Schumer warned on television, ‘Trump is an idiot for messing with the intelligence community because they can screw you six ways starting Sunday,” Gabbard said during remarks at the Young Americans for Liberty’s (YAL) Revolution 2022 event in August 2022.
She continued, “The top Democrat in the United States Senate is essentially warning the American people against messing with the intelligence community because they can screw you so bad. As if they are an autonomous government body that is not accountable to anyone.’
“How can this be America?” she asked. “This goes against the ideals of a government of, by and for the people.”
Trump’s announcement of Gabbard on Wednesday helps complete his new national security and defense team.
He plans to appoint Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser.
Trump nominates North Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead his Department of Homeland Security.
And earlier this week, the former and future president announced that his previous DNI John Ratcliffe would lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).