On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted along party lines to confirm former Democrat Congresswoman-turned Independent from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, as President Trump’s new Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
In a 52:48 vote, Mitch McConnell, the former GOP Senate Majority Leader, was the sole Republican to vote against Trump’s nominee for the intelligence chief position, Gabbard. Meanwhile, all Senate Democrats on the other hand, stuck together and voted against their former party colleague, Gabbard.
Republicans control the Upper Chamber of the U.S. Congress, the Senate, with 53-47 seats against Democrats. Hence it came as a surprise that the former GOP Senate leader voted against his own party’s nominee.
But then again, McConnell is a known party stalwart, an old establishment guy and a staunch RINO. He’s also a swamp-creature and part of the no longer relevant, dying, old order, a once respected skilled politician who has turned out to be one of the harshest anti-Trump critics in the sunset of his career.
Gabbard will now be sworn in later in the day at The White House to take office and then officially assume control of the National Intelligence apparatus.
Endorsed by President Trump and a new MAGA darling, Gabbard is now the second woman and female to be appointed to the position of spy chief, after Avril Haines, a Joe Biden appointee who served from 2021-2025.
Gabbard is also the first Hindu and first female combat veteran to serve as DNI to hold that position. She currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves and was a four-term Congressional Representative for Hawaii before becoming Independent and ran for U.S. President.
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