DNI Tulsi Gabbard delivers her first remarks as Director of National Intelligence: “I look forward to being able … to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country.”
DNI Tulsi Gabbard takes the oath of office as the 8th Director of National Intelligence
On 2/12/2025, Tulsi Gabbard was sworn as Director of National Intelligence after overcoming initial skepticism from several Republicans to win Senate approval. President Donald Trump hosted the swearing-in ceremony at the White House just hours after the Senate confirmed Gabbard by a vote of 52-48. The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence Wednesday, ending weeks of skepticism surrounding her once-embattled confirmation and installing her as the leader of the U.S. intelligence community.
In a 52 to 48 vote, the Senate confirmed Gabbard’s nomination, with one Republican — Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — joining Democrats in opposing her. McConnell said that Gabbard “failed to demonstrate” that she was prepared for the role.
Gabbard was sworn in to the role during a ceremony at the White House later in the day, where President Trump said “there’s nobody like her for this job.” Gabbard said she looks forward to “being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election, to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country.”
Gabbard was previously seen as one of the most unlikely of Mr. Trump’s picks to get through the Senate. In brief remarks, Gabbard said the American people have “very little trust in the intelligence community” and condemned “the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security.”
“I look forward to being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people,” Gabbard said.
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Tulsi Gabbard delivers her first remarks as Director of DNI: refocus our intelligence community