Tulsi Gabbard faces a crucial week on Capitol Hill as she makes the rounds with senators to address their concerns and win confirmation to lead the U.S. national intelligence apparatus.
Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in the House as a Democrat, has flown under the radar in recent weeks, particularly because of the focus on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)’s bid for attorney general and the nomination of Pete Hegseth as The chairman was the Pentagon.
But she faces countless questions from Senate Republicans about her past comments on Russia and a 2017 visit to Syria in which she declared that now-ousted President Bashar Assad was not an “enemy” of the United States – issues that have become more crucial since rebels took control of Damascus at the weekend.
“There are just a lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W-Va.), a member of the Republican leadership.
“I’m sure she can answer these questions,” Capito continued, adding that Gabbard hasn’t spoken publicly enough about these issues, including Syria. “For a lot of people…it’s kind of too undefined to really form an opinion, so it really needs to come out [there].”
Gabbard began her meetings Monday with a trio of Senate Republicans, including Sens. James Lankford (Okla.) and Mike Rounds (Sd.), both of whom sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee and will assist control her fate.
But the key to her success or failure is her ability to dispel skepticism from some parts of the GOP conference.
Unlike much of the MAGA-verse, Senate Republicans are still broadly supportive of Ukraine, and the conference includes a number of defense hawks whose views clash directly with Gabbard’s comments in recent years that were seen as sympathetic to Russia. Russian state media also praised her selection.
But Trump World appears ready to go to the mat to defend it, especially as some of President-elect Trump’s nominees have withdrawn and others remain in troubled waters.
“I think she’s great. I support her 100 percent. A lot of people have problems with some of the things she did,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who served alongside her in the House.
He pointed to her status as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and that she was in Oklahoma for a training mission over the weekend.
“I think she knows what she has to do and I bet her foreign policy will be consistent with the direction of this country. I remind you that she is able to serve the country in the army, and we say that now we are worried about her position because she was nominated for the DNI? For me it’s not a starter. She would be wonderful in this position.”
Her supporters also criticize calls from Democrats and critics who argue that she poses a security risk and is unable to pass a background check.
“This is bullshit—,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), citing her military status and the fact that she already has top secret clearance. “There’s a lot of exaggeration out there.”
But the timing of her tour of the Capitol couldn’t be worse, with the Assad regime reeling in recent days after rebels seized Damascus and forced the dictator to flee the country. Moscow confirmed he had been granted asylum after the end of his 24-year rule in Russia.
Both senators and aides acknowledged that the emerging problems in the region were creating modern headaches for the former Hawaii congresswoman.
“Let’s be specific,” Capito said of Gabbard’s earlier assertion that Assad is not an “enemy” of the U.S., but added that her views on Syria were not disqualifying.
Gabbard herself also tried to quell questions about Assad and Syria, telling reporters after a meeting with Lankford that she supported Trump’s demands on the US Stay out of the fights in the region, and that there should be one immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, negotiations will begin shortly.
“I fully support and agree with the statements President Trump has made in recent days regarding developments in Syria,” she said.
“My own views and experiences are shaped by my numerous missions. Seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamic terrorism is one of the many reasons I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election because he is fully committed to “I have it time and time again “said to bring an end to wars, demonstrate peace through strength, and put national security interests and the safety and freedom of the United States first,” she added.
Gabbard is one of several nominees facing questions ahead of confirmation next month, along with Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is set to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.). are in circulation. to become Minister of Labor.
But even those who would agree with her admitted they still wanted answers to some questions. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), the third GOP member to meet with Gabbard on Monday, told reporters that the two had a “good meeting” but that he had more questions for her in the coming days.
“I always liked her,” Graham said, although he noted that she opposed the order to kill Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
“I’m going to ask her some questions about her thinking,” Graham said. “I’ll give her a chance to have a few days to write everything down.”
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