This is not a good sign.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) expressed growing concerns Thursday that the nomination of former Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) may be in serious jeopardy. The Missouri senator, who has been a vocal supporter of Gabbard in the past, warned that some of his Republican colleagues may be less than enthusiastic about her confirmation.
“I’m concerned about what I’m hearing from some of my colleagues in the Republican Party,” Hawley said during an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News. “Her nomination could be in trouble, and that’s something we need to think about seriously.”
Gabbard, who President Trump nominated to lead the nation’s intelligence community, has faced scrutiny for some controversial past actions. She came under fire for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad during a visit to the Middle East in 2017, just before Assad’s regime faced growing international pressure. Additionally, Gabbard was criticized for previously advocating for a pardon for former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked classified documents exposing widespread government surveillance programs. However, Gabbard later distanced herself from that position during her confirmation hearing, stating she no longer supported clemency for Snowden.
Senator Hawley came to Gabbard’s defense, arguing that her past positions were a result of her willingness to challenge the U.S. government’s surveillance practices. “Her real ‘crime’ is that she challenged the surveillance state,” Hawley remarked. “She told the truth about government spying on Americans, and she spoke out against the abuses of programs like FISA. Now, she’s being attacked and persecuted for standing up for what’s right.”
Hawley also emphasized the need for reform within the intelligence community, stating, “We can’t pretend everything is going smoothly in the intelligence agencies—it’s not.” Despite his support, several Republican senators have raised doubts about Gabbard’s ability to be trusted with such a critical role, citing her past comments and positions.
“Some Republicans are still deciding, but this nomination is definitely facing significant challenges,” one anonymous GOP senator told The Hill. Moreover, some Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee also voiced concerns about Gabbard’s positions on key issues, particularly her reluctance to denounce Snowden and her opposition to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Despite the opposition, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) urged patience, calling for a thorough review of Gabbard’s qualifications and addressing the issues raised during her hearing. “Let’s allow the process to unfold,” Thune said. “Everyone will come to their own conclusions based on the facts, and we’ll see how it goes.”
While Gabbard’s nomination is far from certain, her outspokenness on civil liberties and reforming the intelligence community has earned her both fierce support and harsh criticism within her own party.