Tulsi Gabbard Sworn In as Director of National Intelligence: 'Refocus Our Intelligence Community' (February 12, 2025)

Sworn in as director of national intelligence in the Oval Office, Tulsi Gabbard promised to clean up a community Americans no longer trust. “Unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they’ve seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security,” Gabbard said on Feb. 12, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“So, 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,” she told President Donald Trump [1].

The video above shows Gabbard’s swearing-in on Feb. 12, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”Placed on a Suspected Terrorist Watch List”

Trump introduced her. “Tulsi Gabbard is an American of extraordinary courage and exceptional patriotism,” he said [1].

“In recent years, Tulsi has been a courageous and often lonely voice speaking out against radical left’s attacks on free speech and the dangers of an unelected deep state,” Trump said [1].

“Tulsi herself became a target of that weaponization when she was outrageously placed on a suspected terrorist watch list by the Biden regime—it was a very evil regime—after criticizing their appalling abuses of power,” he said [1].

Trump joked about her past as a Democrat. “She is a former vice chair of the National Democratic Party. Can you believe that?” he said, adding that “she was never a Democrat” and that “at heart” she was “a Republican.” [1]

“Restore Honesty, Integrity, and Trust”

Trump said he was handing her a mission. “She’ll provide the American people with transparency, eliminate corruption, shrink the bloated bureaucracy, and restore honesty, integrity, and trust to the national security state,” he said [1].

“There’s only one thing I can say: that there’s nobody like her for this job. This was a very easy one for me,” Trump said [1].

Attorney General Pam Bondi gave the oath. “Please place your left hand on the Constitution and raise your right hand and repeat after me. I do solemnly swear,” Bondi said [1].

Gabbard also thanked Trump for a promise from his National Prayer Breakfast speech. “You made a statement about your legacy of wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker. I know that I can speak for many of my fellow service members who are here today, veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, how deeply that resonates with us,” she said [1].

”I Think President Putin Wants Peace”

Earlier that day, Trump had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “No, we had a great call, and it lasted for a long time—over an hour this morning. I also had, with President Zelenskyy, a very good call after that, and I think we’re on the way to getting peace,” Trump said [1].

“I think President Putin wants peace, and President Zelenskyy wants peace, and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed,” he said [1].

“It would have never happened if I were President. That, I can tell you. It would have never happened,” Trump said of the war [1].

”He Was So Happy to Be Out”

Trump was asked about Marc Fogel, the American teacher Russia had just released. “No, but it was a—a nice thing that he allowed Marc Fogel to leave,” Trump said. “He was there—he was there for 3½ years plus, and he shouldn’t have been there at all.” [1]

“$1.7 Billion Off the Price”

On government waste, Trump told the story of the new Air Force One. “Look, I bought—I came in, they had a contract done, as you know, for $5.7 billion for airplanes—it was Air Force One—with Boeing—5.7,” he said. “I was able to cut $1.7 billion off the price, and it didn’t take me long—$1.7 billion.” [1]

“If people would care, they’d be able to do that with every single contract that’s put before them, and we wouldn’t have deficits,” Trump said [1].

By the Numbers

21: Gabbard’s age when she became the youngest woman elected to the Hawaii legislature, per Trump [1].
3: her deployments abroad with the Hawaii Army National Guard, per Trump [1].
Over an hour: Trump’s call with Putin that morning [1].
3½ years plus: Marc Fogel’s time in Russia, per Trump [1].

What Happened Next

Gabbard released the Russia files. On July 23, 2025, she stood at the White House podium. “There is irrefutable evidence that detail how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false,” Gabbard said [2].

Asked whether Obama was guilty of treason, she said: “I’m leaving the criminal charges to the Department of Justice. I am not an attorney.” [2]

“The expressed intent and what followed afterward can only be described as a years-long coup and a treasonous conspiracy against the American people, our Republic, and an attempt to undermine President Trump’s administration,” Gabbard said [2].

For Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska, see HYGO News’ page on Aug. 15, 2025. For Kash Patel’s swearing-in as FBI director nine days later, see the page on Feb. 21, 2025.