John Bolton, the former national security adviser, expressed concerns that Russia and China would feel a sense of relief if Tulsi Gabbard, the ex-Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, were appointed as the director of national intelligence under President-elect Trump.
Speaking on CNN, Bolton sharply criticized Gabbard’s qualifications, saying she was “incapable” of handling the role and lacked sound judgment. He suggested that her potential appointment would ease tensions for Moscow and Beijing, who might see it as a favorable development for their interests.
Last week, Trump nominated Gabbard for the critical position, which involves overseeing the nation’s intelligence agencies and providing the President’s Daily Brief to inform national security strategies.
Bolton questions Gabbard’s experience and judgment for the critical intelligence role
The announcement has sparked shock and concern among lawmakers and national security experts. Since leaving the Democratic Party in 2022 and aligning with the Republican Party, Gabbard has expressed controversial views, particularly challenging U.S. intelligence assessments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
She has also repeated a widely debunked claim that the U.S. played a role in the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, a narrative pushed by Russia. Bolton, previously, had called for an FBI probe into Gabbard’s past actions before she could be considered for Senate confirmation.
He reiterated his stance, emphasizing that her confirmation would be a “grave mistake.” Bolton pointed out Gabbard’s lack of relevant experience, stating that she had “no background” in intelligence work and was ill-prepared for the responsibilities of the role.
Finally, Bolton argued that the Senate should not disregard its constitutional responsibility simply because Trump won the election. He predicted that while Republicans may not have a majority to block her nomination, there would still be “enough” to prevent her confirmation, warning that failing to do so would have serious consequences.
