The GOP-controlled Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence. The vote was mostly along party lines, with only one Republican joining Democrats in voting against her. Gabbard’s nomination was initially met with concerns regarding her meeting with Bashar Assad, comments about Russia, and support for whistleblowers like Edward Snowden. However, she reversed her stance on these issues during her confirmation hearing, and ultimately received support from Senate Republicans. Democrats were critical of Gabbard, accusing Republicans of prioritizing loyalty to Trump over national security. Gabbard, a military veteran, had previously been a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 2022 and endorsed Trump for the 2024 election.
The Senate also planned to vote on advancing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for health and human services secretary. Kennedy, an unorthodox choice known for his past opposition to vaccines and support for abortion, faced skepticism from some Republicans. However, he stated during his confirmation hearing that he now believes in the importance of vaccines and adopted a stance aligning with President Trump on abortion. Senator Bill Cassidy, a key swing vote, announced his support for Kennedy after securing concessions from the nominee, including commitments to protect public health benefits of vaccination and maintain a collaborative relationship with Cassidy. If Kennedy wins a simple majority, he could be confirmed by the following day.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
