President-elect Donald Trump has named Tulsi Gabbard as his director of national intelligence, CNN reports.

“For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and Freedoms of all Americans,” Trump said in a statement, per NBC News. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!”

Gabbard was one of several candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. She left the Democratic party in October 2022 to become an Independent. In 2024, she joined the Republican Party.

According to NBC News, she was a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and has been deployed in several different countries.

To take the position, she must first be confirmed by Congress. CNN anticipates that her nomination will set off a “major confirmation fight.” The news outlet notes that she has shown support for foreign leaders who many would consider to be adversarial to the United States.

NBC News also noted that Gabbard claimed that the House January 6. committee was motivated by “political interests” when investigating the insurrection in 2021.

“They don’t have their priorities straight. So much of this has been politicized. It’s been sensationalized with very specific objectives that have nothing to do with upholding the Constitution,” Gabbard said in an interview on Fox News in 2022.

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