Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Monday that former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), President-elect Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, is “a national security threat” to the U.S.
“So, to have Tulsi Gabbard there now, who has basically said good things about [Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad,] secretly gone over to visit him, good things about [Russian President Vladimir Putin,] shows to me that that’s a national security threat to the United States of America, and I think under ordinary circumstances, if you go through regular security screening, she would not pass the test to receive classified documents,” Meeks told MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera.
Trump announced last week that he had selected Gabbard to be director of national intelligence in his next administration.
“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!” Trump said in a statement at the time.
Gabbard has in the past shared content implying that the U.S. was involved in making biological weapons in Ukraine, perpetuating a narrative from Moscow. She also met in 2017 with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of the use of chemical weapons on Syrian civilians.
“She was … on the Foreign Affairs Committee, when she secretly went over to visit Assad … she made … public statements about Russia,” Meeks said of Gabbard on Monday. “And I think that, you know, unfortunately it does follow what Donald Trump has done and what Donald Trump has said.”
“Because Donald Trump … said he trusted Russian intelligence above the United States intelligence,” Meeks added.
Multiple Democrats, including Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), a former CIA officer, have come out against Gabbard as Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence.
“As a former CIA case officer, I saw the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community put their lives on the line every day for this country — and I am appalled at the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to lead DNI,” Spanberger said on the social platform X last week.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.
