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Tulsi Gabbard has been confirmed as Director of National Intelligence by the Senate. The vote makes Gabbard the 14th member of President Trump’s cabinet to receive Senate confirmation.
Gabbard was confirmed in a 52-48 vote on Wednesday. She is the latest in a streak of successful confirmations following tense hearings for Trump’s nominees including Pam Bondi as Attorney General and Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
The nomination of Gabbard has been viewed as a bold step in the effort to counteract the weaponization of the intelligence community against President Trump.
The Senate voted to confirm Gabbard along party lines, except Sen. Mitch McConnel, R-Ky. The former GOP Senate leader voted against Gabbard’s confirmation.
Gabbard faced tough questioning from both Democratic and Republican Senators during her hearings but was supported in the confirmation battle by both Vice President J.D. Vance and Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who serves as Chairman of the Select Senate Intelligence Committee.
The momentum of Gabbard’s nomination was strengthened with the support of key senators as she advanced through the initial vote within the Intelligence Committee.
Trump’s high-profile allies enthusiastically supported Gabbard and her confirmation.
“Yay!! Congratulations, Tulsi Gabbard,” wrote Elon Musk in an X post following the vote.
Benny Johnson also celebrated Gabbard’s confirmation, writing in a post on X, “Dear America, This is your new Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. We are so back.”
Gabbard announced her departure from the Democratic Party and endorsement of President Trump during the 2024 campaign. President Trump nominated Gabbard for the position of DNI shortly after his electoral victory in November.