Many in the White House were unsettled by her reluctance to directly address a question about Edward Snowden, according to a source familiar with the administration's perspective.
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Gabbard’s DNI Nomination Faces Uncertainty After Tough Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON — Concerns are mounting in political circles that Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence may be in jeopardy following a contentious confirmation hearing. Even some Republican senators openly questioned her suitability for the critical role, multiple sources familiar with the process told NBC News.
A key point of contention was Gabbard’s reluctance to directly state whether Edward Snowden—the former government contractor who leaked highly classified documents before seeking asylum in Russia—was a traitor.
“It’s a 50-50 shot she gets confirmed,” said a source familiar with the confirmation process.
Democratic senators are expected to unanimously oppose her nomination, meaning she can afford to lose only three Republican votes in the full Senate.
Inside the White House, Gabbard’s handling of the Snowden question reportedly caused unease. One insider described officials as “rattled” by her response, adding that she appeared unprepared.
President Donald Trump also took note of the exchange, according to another source. After watching a clip of the hearing, Trump reportedly wondered aloud how her lack of a definitive answer might impact her confirmation prospects.
“He was curious about whether it would affect her nomination or if it wouldn’t matter at all,” the source said.
Gabbard faced bipartisan scrutiny during her Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, particularly over past comments praising Snowden and advocating for his pardon.
During an exchange with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), she declined to explicitly call Snowden a traitor.
“My heart is with my commitment to our Constitution and our nation’s security,” Gabbard responded when asked directly.
Pressed again, she said, “Senator, I’m focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again.”
White House Pushes to Shore Up Support
The White House had privately urged Gabbard to win over skeptical senators ahead of the hearing.
“She has the most work to do in convincing senators,” one source familiar with the process said.
Despite extensive preparation, including mock sessions, doubts lingered after the hearing. However, the White House remains publicly supportive, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “President Trump nominated Tulsi Gabbard because he believes she will do an excellent job as Director of National Intelligence, and we expect the Senate to confirm her.”
Trump also showed support by sharing an article on Truth Social praising Gabbard’s performance.
When asked whether the White House would defend her nomination as aggressively as it did for former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a source confirmed, “Yes, absolutely.”
The White House intends to press senators for a vote, closely monitoring who backs or opposes her nomination.
Snowden Controversy Continues to Loom
Snowden, who leaked classified NSA documents in 2013 and was later charged under the Espionage Act, became a Russian citizen in 2022.
Gabbard previously called him a “brave whistleblower” and, during her 2019 presidential run, said she would pardon him if elected.
During Thursday’s hearing, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked if she would advocate for clemency for Snowden if confirmed.
“My responsibility would be to ensure the security of our nation’s secrets, and I would not take actions to advocate for any actions related to Snowden,” Gabbard responded.
Pressed by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on whether her past comments undermined intelligence community trust, Gabbard acknowledged that Snowden broke the law but noted that his leaks exposed unconstitutional government programs that led to reforms.
Path to Confirmation Remains Uncertain
With the committee now set to vote on whether to advance her nomination, Gabbard’s fate remains uncertain. A simple Republican majority would send her nomination to the full Senate, but the GOP holds only a narrow one-seat majority on the panel.
Following her hearing, Sen. Lankford, who had initially expressed support, said he now had “a lot of questions.” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also voiced concerns, stating, “I am worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy.”
Gabbard has since met with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) to strategize, according to sources. The White House, Cotton, and Gabbard remain aligned on the path forward.
A Republican Senate aide told NBC News they believe Gabbard “is going to get confirmed both at committee and on the floor.”
“Her challenges with members are all fixable,” the aide said.
Despite mixed reactions from senators, Gabbard’s nomination remains in play as the confirmation process moves forward.
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