Senate Moves Closer To Confirming Tulsi Gabbard As Director Of National Intelligence

The Senate took a major step forward on Monday in confirming Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence, breaking a Democrat-led filibuster that sought to stall President Trump’s second-term administration.

With a 52-46 vote along party lines, the Republican-led Senate invoked cloture on Gabbard’s nomination, clearing the way for a final confirmation vote after up to 30 hours of debate. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Fetterman (D-PA) were notably absent from the vote.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and a combat veteran, has undergone intense scrutiny since her nomination in November. She left the Democratic Party in 2022, citing its increasing radicalism and embrace of censorship. Her strong stance on national security, defense, and intelligence reform made her an ideal pick for Trump’s team.

During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard vowed to restore credibility to the intelligence community, which has been weaponized for political purposes in recent years. She specifically denounced efforts to brand her and President Trump as "puppets" of Russia, calling out the establishment’s obsession with smearing political opponents.

“I refuse to be their puppet,” Gabbard stated boldly, shutting down absurd allegations that she is compromised by foreign influence.

Her nomination advanced through the Intelligence Committee last week with a 9-8 party-line vote. While some Republican senators initially voiced concerns over her past comments on whistleblower Edward Snowden, Gabbard reassured them in writing that she would take a firm stance against unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

Despite the clear momentum for Gabbard’s confirmation, Senate Democrats have used every trick in the book to slow down President Trump’s nominees. With over a dozen Cabinet members confirmed so far, the process has been significantly delayed compared to past administrations.

• Last week, Democrats forced a hold on Kash Patel’s FBI nomination, delaying the Judiciary Committee vote by another week.

• A similar tactic was used against Pam Bondi, but she was ultimately confirmed as Attorney General.

• Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) pointed out that at this stage in Obama’s presidency, twice as many nominees had been confirmed.

Democrats’ obstructionist approach has only solidified GOP unity, with moderate Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) publicly announcing their support for Gabbard. While Murkowski admitted she had reservations about some of Gabbard’s past positions, she ultimately backed the nominee, citing her commitment to limiting government overreach in intelligence operations.

Gabbard’s confirmation will mark another key victory for President Trump as he builds a strong national security team. With Fetterman confirming he won’t back Gabbard or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS Secretary, Republican unity remains critical in pushing through the administration’s nominees.

Trump’s America First agenda is coming together, despite Democrat resistance. The question is: how long will the left continue their stall tactics before accepting that the American people have spoken?

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