Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is Trump’s choose for director of nationwide intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard — a navy veteran and honorary co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition staff — has been chosen by Trump to be his director of nationwide intelligence.

Gabbard left the Democratic Occasion in 2022 after representing Hawaii in Congress for eight years and working for the social gathering’s 2020 presidential nomination. She was seen as an uncommon ally with the Trump marketing campaign, rising as an adviser throughout his prep for his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, who Gabbard had debated in 2020 Democratic primaries.

“For over 20 years, Tulsi has fought for our Nation and the Freedoms of all Individuals. As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad help in each Events – She is now a proud Republican!” Trump stated in an announcement saying his choose, which is able to must be confirmed by the Senate.

Earlier than the announcement, Gabbard stated it could be a “honor” to serve in a Trump administration as she waited for Trump to make choices for his administration.

“If there is a manner I may also help obtain the purpose of stopping World Battle III and nuclear struggle? After all,” she stated in an interview with NewsNation on Monday evening.

She advocated for struggle to be the “final resort.”

“Trump ended up with some neocons round him who have been making an attempt to undermine his targets so they may feed their targets of continuous to maintain us in a perpetual state of struggle,” Gabbard stated, discussing his first administration. “This administration has us dealing with a number of wars on a number of fronts and areas all over the world and nearer to the brink of nuclear struggle than we ever have been earlier than,” Gabbard stated when she endorsed Trump throughout a marketing campaign occasion in Michigan.

“This is without doubt one of the essential explanation why I am dedicated to doing all that I can to ship President Trump again to the White Home, the place he can, as soon as once more, serve us as our commander in chief.”

Gabbard has, in recent times, strengthened her ties with Republicans within the Home and the Senate. Two of her closest allies from her early days in Congress are Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat turned impartial, and Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Gabbard and Mullin even hit the marketing campaign path collectively earlier this 12 months, becoming a member of “Crew Trump on Tour” to help Trump’s marketing campaign.

Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul has additionally fashioned an unlikely alliance with Gabbard, collaborating on the Cease Arming Terrorists Act in each the Home and Senate — a nod to her stance towards the “military-industrial complicated.”

In 2020, because the Democratic presidential area narrowed to 3 candidates, Gabbard described her bid as “a chance to talk to Individuals each single day in regards to the sea change we want in our overseas coverage.”

All through Trump’s marketing campaign, Gabbard performed an lively position, whether or not it was moderating city halls, touring with the group Girls for Trump, or mingling all through Mar-A-Lago.

Gabbard’s appearances highlighted that the coalition of supporters round Trump had shifted. The marketing campaign pointed to Gabbard and former Democratic and impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to indicate the change in his upcoming administration.

Gabbard stated in April she had turned down Kennedy’s provide to be his working mate after assembly with him a number of instances. An individual near him informed ABC Information, “There have been positively conferences, nevertheless it did not work out.”

ABC Information’ Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.