Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), delivered a scathing rebuke of the political establishment, the intelligence community, and the Democratic Party.
Gabbard, a military veteran and former Democratic presidential candidate, did not hold back as she eviscerated the hypocrisy of Washington elites. Facing relentless attacks from political opponents and intelligence insiders, she made it clear: she is no one’s puppet. “Democrats have accused me of being Trump’s puppet, Putin’s puppet, Assad’s puppet, Modi’s puppet, but what truly unsettles them is I refuse to be their puppet,” she declared, her voice steady and unshaken.
For years, Gabbard has been smeared as a Russian asset, an Assad apologist, and a dangerous outsider—labels that mainstream media and political operatives have weaponised to discredit her. But in her opening statement, she systematically dismantled these accusations, exposing what she called a “deep-seated rot” within the US intelligence community and the political class.
One of the most explosive moments of the hearing came when Gabbard torched the 51 intelligence officials who, during the 2020 election, falsely claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation—a claim that later proved to be a deliberate effort to mislead the public and protect Joe Biden’s presidential bid.
“The same intelligence elite that spread blatant falsehoods to manipulate an election now want Americans to believe they have the nation’s best interests at heart,” Gabbard said. “Their job is supposed to be protecting this country, not picking winners and losers in elections.”
This direct shot at the intelligence establishment sent shockwaves through the hearing room. Gabbard further lambasted U.S. leaders who have “cozied up to Islamist extremists” while branding her a traitor for merely questioning America’s reckless foreign interventions.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for US Director of National Intelligence, hits back:
“…Democrats have accused me of being Trump’s puppet, Putin’s puppet, Modi’s puppet—but what truly unsettles them is that I refuse to be their puppet. Yes, I hate racist bigotry against Hindus… pic.twitter.com/TtibLeRqI6
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) January 31, 2025
“I have no love for Assad or Gaddafi or any dictator,” she stated emphatically. “I just hate Al Qaeda. I hate that we have leaders who minimise these terrorists, calling them ‘rebels’ while they fund and arm them.” This was a pointed reference to US policies in Syria, where the government armed so-called “moderate rebels,” some of whom had links to terrorist organisations. Gabbard has long been one of the few voices in Washington to call out these double standards, a stance that has put her at odds with both Democratic and Republican war hawks.
A significant portion of Gabbard’s testimony was dedicated to exposing what she described as “a new wave of religious bigotry” aimed at discrediting her for her Hindu faith. “They are once again using the religious bigotry card, but this time trying to foment religious bigotry against Hindus and Hinduism,” she asserted.
Gabbard has faced relentless attacks over her faith, with critics in the Democratic Party and media attempting to link her spirituality to sinister motives. Some have gone as far as to question her ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accuse her of being a puppet of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite her consistent stance that she acts independently.
“If anyone is sincerely interested in knowing more about my personal spiritual path of Hinduism, I welcome you to go to my account on X, where I’ll share more on this topic,” she said.
Gabbard’s political journey has been nothing short of remarkable. A one-time rising star in the Democratic Party, she once championed progressive causes like Medicare-for-All and stricter gun control. However, her steadfast opposition to endless wars and regime-change policies led to her alienation from the Democratic establishment.
Her rift with the party widened when she took on Hillary Clinton in 2019, exposing the Democratic National Committee’s rigging of the primary against Bernie Sanders in 2016. Clinton later suggested Gabbard was being “groomed” by Russia, a claim Gabbard fiercely rejected. By 2022, she had had enough. Gabbard left the Democratic Party, denouncing it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers” consumed by “cowardly wokeness.” She initially registered as an independent but later joined the Republican Party in late 2024, becoming one of Donald Trump’s most vocal defenders.
Her nomination as Director of National Intelligence signals a radical shift in Trump’s second-term approach to the intelligence community. Trump has long accused intelligence agencies of undermining him, and with Gabbard at the helm, his administration appears poised to dismantle what he sees as a corrupt, partisan deep state.
Despite her strong testimony, Gabbard’s confirmation battle is expected to be fierce. Democrats are already mobilising to block her nomination, painting her as a dangerous figure too aligned with Trump’s nationalist policies. Even some Republicans remain wary, citing her past progressive stances and concerns over her foreign policy views.
However, Gabbard remains unfased. If her testimony is any indication, she is prepared to take on Washington’s most powerful forces head-on. “The American people deserve intelligence leaders who serve them—not political parties, not foreign interests, and certainly not the deep state,” she concluded.
