One of our dedicated subscribers submitted a request for a fact check on this claim. Anyone can submit fact check requests for free, and we will investigate and publish the results.
A CNN report claims that former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by the Senate as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in a 52-48 vote. Given Gabbard’s past criticism of U.S. intelligence agencies and her often unconventional political alliances, many readers found this claim surprising and questioned its accuracy. Let’s break it down.
What’s True?
Yes, the Senate did vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. The vote was recorded as 52-48, mostly along party lines, with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell joining Democrats in opposition. Gabbard’s confirmation was widely seen as controversial, given her past skepticism about U.S. intelligence operations and her mixed stance on government surveillance programs.
What’s Misleading?
The article repeatedly refers to Gabbard’s “dramatic reversal” on government surveillance authority, particularly Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). However, the piece speculates on her motivations without conclusive evidence. While Gabbard previously opposed Section 702, her stated reason for changing her stance was that “reforms had been made” that addressed her concerns. CNN presents this shift skeptically, implying political expediency without providing proof that she insincerely changed positions.
Further, the article describes Gabbard as an “anti-surveillance official” and suggests she may radically reshape U.S. intelligence policies. While she has voiced concerns about mass surveillance, her recent statements support the continuation of FISA 702. The framing of her as the “most markedly anti-surveillance official” to ever hold the role lacks substantial context about how other past officials have viewed surveillance programs.
What’s Missing?
The report glosses over why Trump chose Gabbard for the role in the first place. Gabbard has made a political shift in recent years, moving away from the Democratic Party and aligning more with Trump’s rhetoric on issues like foreign policy and intelligence skepticism. This key context would help readers better understand her appointment, but it is largely absent.
Additionally, while the article notes that some Republican senators were skeptical of her past statements, it fails to fully analyze why key swing votes like Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski ultimately supported her. Their reasoning, beyond vague references to “independent thinking,” is not explored.
Conclusion
This article gets the core fact right—Gabbard has indeed been confirmed—but its framing and omissions create a misleading picture. While her nomination was controversial, and she changed positions on surveillance, the article heavily implies political opportunism without hard evidence. It also lacks sufficient explanation of her growing alignment with Trump’s policies, which played a major role in her selection.
It’s always beneficial to seek multiple sources when such surprising political moves occur. Want to verify more news stories? Submit your own fact-check requests through our platform.
Stay informed and fight misinformation. Download the DBUNK app today!
Read the original article here: CNN’s Report on Gabbard’s Confirmation
