Folks, Tulsi Gabbard has officially been confirmed as our Director of National Intelligence.
I voted no, and I want to talk briefly about why:
The safety of America’s communities and our national securities are my top priority, as they should be for any senator.
With that in mind, I simply could not support Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to this role — one of the principal advisors to the President on national security matters.
The Director of National Intelligence is trusted to safeguard our nation’s most sensitive secrets and leads 18 intelligence agencies composed of men and women who have devoted their lives to the security of the United States.
Tulsi Gabbard is not the right person to hold this position — especially as we face rising threats from China, Russia, Iran, and other bad actors around the world.
Gabbard has praised Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad. She supported Edward Snowden. I held, and still hold, serious questions about her ability to do this job.
All of that is why I, along with every one of my Democratic colleagues, cast a definitive NO vote on her confirmation.
But there’s something else that is of great significance and concern: Many of my Republican colleagues shared my concerns — and expressed deep reservations behind closed doors about Tulsi Gabbard holding this position.
By confirming her to this post, we are shown yet another example of the GOP inability to stand up to President Trump — even in defense of our national security.
When faced with this reality — leaders who are unwilling to put America first, continued evidence of extremism taking root, downright chaos — I know it can be easy to feel disheartened.
But right now, more than ever before, we must continue to speak out together about the failures of the Trump Administration and the Republican congressional majority.
Our resistance does matter. Our activism does matter. I will continue to do everything in my power to protect Virginians and Americans, and I hope you’re with me. Please add your name today to say you’re still in the fight.
Thank you for reading, and for standing with me.
-Tim Kaine
