Tulsi Gabbard’s Views on Russia, Syria, Trump, and Surveillance – In Her Own Words
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard faced intense scrutiny during her confirmation hearing for the role of Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Senators questioned her past statements on Russia, Syria, Edward Snowden, government surveillance, and former President Donald Trump.
As a National Guard lieutenant colonel and former Democratic lawmaker from Hawaii, Gabbard has long been a controversial political figure. Her comments on U.S. foreign policy and intelligence issues have raised concerns among officials in Washington and abroad.
Here’s a breakdown of her views in her own words and how they shaped the hearing.
On Russia and Ukraine
Gabbard has echoed Russian justifications for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the war could have been avoided if the U.S. and NATO had acknowledged Russia’s “legitimate security concerns.“
“This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if the Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns.” – Twitter, 2022
She also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling his government a “corrupt autocracy.”
Additionally, she repeated Russian-backed claims that U.S.-funded biological research labs in Ukraine posed a threat, saying:
“These labs need to be shut down immediately, and the pathogens they hold need to be destroyed.”
Her comments drew strong rebukes from lawmakers, who accused her of spreading Russian disinformation. However, on Thursday, she rejected allegations that she was pro-Russian:
“I don’t pay attention to Russian propaganda.”
When Republican Sen. Jerry Moran asked if she would give Russia “a pass” as DNI, she responded defiantly:
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“No country, group, or individual will get a pass.”
On Edward Snowden
Gabbard has defended Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified U.S. surveillance programs and later fled to Russia. She once called him a “brave whistleblower” and sponsored legislation to pardon him.
“If it wasn’t for Snowden, the American people would never have learned the NSA was collecting phone records and spying on Americans.” – 2019
When pressed during the hearing on whether Snowden was a traitor, Gabbard repeatedly avoided giving a direct answer. Instead, she acknowledged that while Snowden exposed unconstitutional programs, he also broke the law.
“Edward Snowden broke the law.”
Her refusal to explicitly label Snowden a traitor led to some of the most heated exchanges of the hearing.
On Syria and Meeting with Assad
In 2017, Gabbard made a controversial trip to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar al-Assad, a known war criminal and ally of Russia. Lawmakers from both parties condemned the visit, arguing it legitimized a brutal dictator.
Gabbard defended the trip, saying diplomacy requires engaging with adversaries:
“If we truly care about the Syrian people, we must meet with anyone necessary to achieve peace.”
She later claimed she confronted Assad about his regime’s actions but remained skeptical about U.S. reports that Assad used chemical weapons on civilians.
“I have not seen an independent investigation proving that Assad carried out those attacks.” – 2017
Following Assad’s downfall, she echoed Trump’s stance that Russia abandoned him due to the Ukraine war:
“I stand in full support of President Trump’s statements.”
On Government Surveillance
As a Congresswoman, Gabbard tried to repeal Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to collect foreign intelligence without a warrant. She argued it violated Americans’ civil liberties.
“Protection of our civil liberties is essential.” – 2020
Her opposition concerned lawmakers, who feared it could be a liability in her DNI nomination. However, during the hearing, she reversed her position, now calling Section 702 a “crucial intelligence tool.”
“Congress has added protections, and I now support this law as vital for national security.”
On Her Support for Trump
Gabbard’s political transformation has been stark. Once a Democratic presidential candidate, she now aligns with Trump and his views on the intelligence community.
In 2019, she criticized Trump and abstained from voting on his first impeachment, saying:
“Donald Trump is unfit to serve as president and commander in chief.”
However, in 2024, she now defends him, claiming his presidency was undermined by a biased intelligence community:
“The FBI and intelligence agencies were politicized to falsely portray Trump as a puppet of Putin.”
She also called Trump’s reelection a mandate to reform the intelligence community:
“President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure.”
Conclusion
Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence has sparked intense debate over her foreign policy stances, surveillance views, and political shift.
While her supporters see her as an independent thinker, critics argue her past statements on Russia, Syria, and Snowden raise serious concerns about her ability to lead U.S. intelligence agencies.
With her confirmation still uncertain, the coming weeks will determine whether the Senate is willing to entrust her with one of the most sensitive national security positions in the U.S. government.
