Tucker Carlson is not beholden to Fox News anymore. He’s out on his own and can say what he wants.
And now Tucker Carlson has blindsided Donald Trump by drawing this clear line in the sand.
The Republican infighting is not going to go away after Donald Trump and the Republicans took back control of both the White House and the U.S. Senate and maintained control (barely) in the U.S. House this November. There’s already been a number of Republicans signaling a big disagreement with Trump over his nominations for his incoming administration.
Donald Trump hasn’t just nominated anyone this time around. He’s had a few picks that were met with a general “meh” from his base, but there’s also been some picks that have rocked Washington, D.C. to its core, including Kash Patel to head up the FBI and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head up the Department of Health and Human services (HHS). These are real “shakeup” moves for the D.C. bureaucrat class, and that scares them.
One of the picks that has truly raised eyebrows for many of the suits on the Hill is the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Tulsi Gabbard does not just accept the general narrative on foreign policy and national security issues and she’s a real independent thinker. That will automatically make her confirmation more difficult than for a generic bureaucrat being nominated to keep up the status quo.
Trump’s allies are fighting back, though. Tucker Carlson is drawing a line in the sand to make it clear to all Republicans in the U.S. Senate that they will either support Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence or risk being labeled an enemy of the country. Yes, even an enemy of the entire United States.
Tucker Carlson Slams Republican Senators Who Oppose Tulsi Gabbard’s DNI Confirmation
Tucker Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller News Foundation, delivered a strong message to Republican Senators during a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Thursday. Carlson made it clear that any Republican senator who votes against confirming former Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as President-elect Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI) would be considered an “enemy” of the country.
Trump had nominated Gabbard for the DNI position on November 13, sparking controversy among national security officials and groups with ties to organizations targeting “election misinformation,” as well as left-wing political groups, intelligence agencies, and defense contractors. Despite the backlash, Carlson was resolute in his support for Gabbard, who he believes is a crucial figure for reforming the U.S. government.
“She is the critical appointment because she has the ability to declassify the truth about what your government has been doing in your name with your money for decades,” Carlson argued. He stressed that Gabbard’s appointment would bring much-needed transparency and help expose corruption within the U.S. government. According to Carlson, no one doubts Gabbard’s patriotism, pointing to her background as an Army officer with 20 years of service, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait.
Carlson pointed out the absurdity of accusations against Gabbard, particularly those questioning her loyalty to the U.S. “By the way, if she was a foreign agent, how exactly is she carrying a gun in the U.S. military?” Carlson asked. He emphasized that Gabbard’s military service and commitment to her country should make it clear where her loyalties lie.
Gabbard, who joined the Republican Party shortly before Trump’s November victory, has since supported him on the campaign trail. Her service in the Army National Guard and her longstanding military career only bolstered her credibility in Carlson’s eyes as a candidate capable of leading reform in the intelligence community.
Carlson’s remarks were directed specifically at Republican senators who might oppose Gabbard’s confirmation. He warned that any senator voting against her nomination would not only be opposing meaningful government reform but also siding with the establishment forces working against transparency and accountability. “If there are Republican senators who are voting against Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation … either in the Intel Committee or in the open Senate, you will know that person is not only my enemy as someone who voted for change, for openness, for transparency, for an end to corruption, for a draining of the swamp, you know that person is an enemy of the United States. Period,” Carlson stated.
He continued by calling out the narrative that might be used to justify opposing Gabbard: national security concerns. “It’s really that simple. And you will get the same story: ‘Oh, it’s national security. We can’t let our enemies know. We can’t trust Tulsi Gabbard.’ No, we can’t trust you actually,” Carlson said, reinforcing his belief that the real enemy is the system of secrecy and corruption within the government.
Carlson’s speech demonstrated his belief that Gabbard’s appointment as DNI would be a transformative moment for the U.S. government, offering a chance for transparency and reform that he feels is urgently needed. He framed the issue as a critical test of loyalty, not only to the Trump administration but to the country’s ideals of transparency and reform.
Proud to support @TulsiGabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Her military service and dedication to our Constitutional rights make her a strong choice for this critical role. pic.twitter.com/BgKjUCQaEV
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 17, 2024
There have been recent reports suggesting that Tulsi Gabbard might have the necessary votes to be confirmed to the role of DNI in the incoming Trump administration. She will only need a simple majority to be confirmed, with Republicans having the majority vote when the new Congress switches over. The GOP will have a 53-47 majority in that Congressional chamber. Currently, the political outcome betting market, Polymarket, has Tulsi Gabbard as having a 66% chance of being confirmed based on the current betting odds.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
