The newly elected president of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump, chose tonight Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of the lower house of the US Congress, as the director of the national intelligence services.
Gabbard, who was once a contender for the Democratic nomination for the US President, is another example of Trump's criterion that for key positions in his administration he relies more on loyalists and personalities complementary to him, than on professionals with many years of experience in the specific field.
"As a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, she (Gabbard) has broad support in both parties — and is now a proud Republican!" Trump wrote in a statement, adding: "I know Tulsi will bring to our intelligence community a fearless spirit that defines her colorful career, that she will insist on our constitutional rights, and that she will ensure peace through strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!"
Gabbard served in the US National Guard for more than two decades and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait.
In her new role, she will be somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor, the still-incumbent director of national intelligence, Avril Haynes, who was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 after spending several years in national security and intelligence leadership positions. .
Gabbard did not work directly in the intelligence community. She was, on the other hand, in the committees of the House of Representatives of the Congress, which includes two years in the committee for internal security of the USA.
And she is one of Trump's most popular political surrogates. In speeches during his presidential campaign, she often elicited thunderous applause from the audience.
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