Tulsi Gabbard Sworn-In as Director of National Intelligence

Until recently, Tulsi Gabbard was a Democrat, in fact a leading Democrat , but she crossed-over to support Trump, and the Democrats treat her as an apostate. The confirmation vote in the Senate was 48-52, with all Democrats voting against her, while all Republicans, except Mitch McConnell, voted for her. McConnell has developed a non-Republican voting record on any issue that is important to President Trump. It is very clear to most observers that McConnell no longer represents the people of Kentucky who elected him, so great is his animosity toward Ms. Trump.

Having secured the confirmation in the Senate, Ms. Gaggard headed to the Oval Office where Attorney General Pam Bondi swore her in.

In her remarks after being sworn-in, Ms. Gabbard said,

“Unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they have seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring out national security.

So I look forward to being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safely, security, and freedom of the American people.” 

Ms. Gabbard, who is a Lt. Col. in the reserves, referenced the National Prayer Breakfast at which Mr. Trump said that he’d like to be remembered as a peacemaker, and she added,

“I can speak for many of my fellow service members who are here today, how deeply that resonates with us,  For those who volunteer to put their lives on the line when duty calls, but to have a President and Commander-In-Chief who recognizes the cost of that sacrifice and ensuring that war is the last resort, not the first.  So thank you for your leadership on behalf of my friends here and all who wear the uniform.”

Following the swearing-in , Mr. Trump took questions from the press. He discussed “being on the way” to negotiating a peace deal in the Russian-Ukrainian War. “I think we will get a ceasefire in the not too distant future.” He said that it was his opinion that the U.S. has spent $350 billion on the Ukraine War. “President Putin wants peace now, and he didn’t want peace with Biden,” Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump then discussed reciprocal tariffs.

He stated his belief that there’s “No chance there’s not kick-backs going on” in the wanton spending conducted by USAID and other government agencies during the last administration.

The President also discussed “activist judges,” who he said seek to require us to continue to send money to finance fraud.