'Genuine threat': Backlash hits Tulsi Gabbard as 'Putin's girlfriend' confirmed to Cabinet

Experts and critics expressed alarm Wednesday after former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence (DNI).

In a 52-48 vote mainly along party lines, the Senate confirmed Gabbard despite her history of promoting Russian talking points. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) joined Democrats in voting against the nominee.

"A genuine threat to our national security is now the Director of National Intelligence," Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Tulsi Gabbard is a Putin and Assad sympathizer. Now, she's in charge of not only our national secrets, but our entire intelligence infrastructure. Shame on the Republicans who know better but caved to Trump."

National security analyst Main Wonk concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin "owns Trump" after reflecting on Gabbard's confirmation and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's capitulation on Ukraine.

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"Today's a great day for Putin," the Lincoln Project noted. "He finally has an asset at the highest level of US intelligence, and he's laughing. Tulsi Gabbard, known in Russia as 'Putin's Girlfriend', is now in charge of our intelligence apparatus. America is being weakened by Trump and his administration."