Home US The spy chief issues a chilling warning to Trump about one of the Cabinet’s top picks

The spy chief issues a chilling warning to Trump about one of the Cabinet’s top picks

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A top spy chief has issued a chilling warning to President Trump, warning him about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

A top spy chief has issued a chilling warning to President Trump, warning him about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.

Former head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Sir John Sawers, described Gabbard’s possible rise to the top spy post as “difficult” and said there appears to be no “overall global plan” behind Trump’s choice.

“I think senators have a great responsibility to ensure that only people who are qualified for top positions get through to them, especially those in the most sensitive areas,” Sawers told CNN on Saturday.

“The United States is the most powerful intelligence community in the world, and one of their biggest challenges is Russia, and another (of their) biggest challenges is China.”

The spy chief raised concerns about Gabbard’s “pro-Russian” positions throughout her career, with critics also pointing to her past comments about former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad as “not an enemy” after she targeted him in 2017 had met in a controversial manner.

“To have someone who is director of national intelligence and who is actually taking a very pro-Russian approach, that seems very difficult to me, and it makes it difficult for America’s partners as well,” Sawers continued.

“How do you deal with an intelligence community in which the highest figure in it, the cabinet member, actually sympathizes with our greatest enemy.”

Sawers’ comments come as Gabbard’s nomination hangs in the balance after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth passed by the narrowest of margins this week, with at least three Republican senators indicating they will not vote to confirm her.

A top spy chief has issued a chilling warning to President Trump, warning him about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

Sir John Sawers, former head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), this week expressed concern about Gabbard's

Sir John Sawers, former head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), this week expressed concern about Gabbard’s “pro-Russian” views throughout her career

The same Republican senators who rejected Hegseth, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have all said they will not support Gabbard either.

Hegseth needed a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance to confirm him as Donald Trump’s defense secretary after a last-minute meeting with insecure Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

When Vance heard the outcome, he joked on social media, “I thought I was done voting in the Senate.”

With all 50 Democrats expected to vote against her, that means Gabbard cannot afford to lose one more Republican vote when her confirmation hearing begins on January 30.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has struggled to gain support from members of her old party since moving to Trump during the election.

She has made taking on the so-called “Deep State” a hallmark of her political shift, which like Hegseth and FBI pick Kash Patel has angered some in Washington.

Patel, a former federal prosecutor who worked in Trump’s first administration, has publicly stated on numerous occasions how he wants to dismantle the “Deep State” and even published a book on federal corruption in 2023 titled “Government Gangsters.”

Gabbard was also skeptical of the intelligence community and even showed her opposition by voluntarily visiting former Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad in 2017 on what she considered a “fact-finding mission.”

They are expected to break the status quo and usher in a new era of Trump-friendly sentiments for the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017, but he denied the claims and was never charged. Although a report surfaced Thursday showing he had paid the accuser $50,000

Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in 2017, but he denied the claims and was never charged. Although a report surfaced Thursday showing he had paid the accuser $50,000

Following Hegseth’s confirmation this week, Donald Trump seemed optimistic when he declared that “winning is the only thing” in his first remarks about the endorsement on Friday.

Trump was on the tarmac at LAX on Friday after visiting the California wildfires when he was asked about his thoughts on the confirmation after saying he had spoken to Hegseth.

“We just heard that we have a great Secretary of Defense, we’re very happy about that and we appreciate everyone’s voice,” Trump said over the sound of Air Force One.

When asked about McConnell’s “no” vote, which Trump had jokingly predicted earlier in the day, the president replied, “I didn’t know that, all I know is we won.”

When pressed again on his vote, McConnell again said he didn’t know it had happened and repeated, “I just heard we won.” Winning is what matters, right?’

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