On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted along party lines to confirm former Democrat Congresswoman-turned Independent from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, to be 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 Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for the intelligence chief position.
Gabbard was later sworn in by Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi in the Oval Office at The White House.
Present at the Oval Office as Gabbard took her oath of office was President Trump and husband, Abraham Williams.
Once sworn in, Gabbard will officially assume control of the National Intelligence apparatus as its chief.
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, McConnell is a known party stalwart, an old establishment fixture 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, McConnell has turned out to be one of the harshest anti-Trump critics in the Senate and worse, in the sunset of his career.
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 the eighth Senate-Confirmed and first female combat veteran to be appointed to the post of Director of National Intelligence (DNI). She is also the first Hindu to hold that position.
Gabbard is a former four-term U.S. Congress woman (D-Hawaii) and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
© 2025 Manyika Review. All Rights Reserved.
