Appointments of Discovery Community Leaders

2024-11-15 16:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped an early ally to head the CIA. He has also proposed someone from outside the traditional establishment to oversee US intelligence agencies. As VOA correspondent Jeff Seldin reports, many are eyeing the possibility of drastic changes when he begins his second term in January.

The appointment that drew the most attention is that of lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard, selected by incoming President Donald Trump for the post of director of national intelligence.

"These are the choices we have: A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for Dick Cheney, and it's a vote for war, more wars, maybe World War III and nuclear war. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for a person who wants to end wars, not start them," said Legislator Gabbard.

The former Democrat became a strong voice for former President Trump's election campaign, securing wider support for his agenda.

"For this reason, I am proud to support President Trump and for the reasons why we, the people, should vote to return him to the White House and make America great again ," Gabbard, the legislator, told supporters.

When announcing Ms. Gabbard's appointment, President-elect Trump praised her "fearless spirit," saying she would bring that quality to her new role.

She also brings over 20 years of experience with the United States National Guard.

But another level of controversy ... roiling Republican and Democratic lawmakers with a message on social media that critics say echoed Russian propaganda's allusion to funding bioweapons labs in Ukraine — something U.S. intelligence officials say it is not true.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney called Gabbard's comments "treasonous lies" at the time - a charge she denies.

Lawmaker Gabbard has also been criticized for meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of war crimes. But she defended the visit, saying that you can't show that you seriously want peace if you're not willing to talk to opponents.

President-elect Trump's selection of former lawmaker John Ratcliffe to head the CIA is more traditional. Mr. Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence during former President Trump's first term.

During his tenure as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, he defended former President Trump:

"Can any of you say there was any wrongdoing during the call that needs to be investigated?" Say it out loud" , said legislator Ratcliffe at the time.

He continued to be a staunch supporter of the former president.

And former President Trump came to his defense when lawmakers forced Mr Ratcliffe to withdraw from the 2019 vetting process to take over the administration's top intelligence post.

"In my opinion, the media treated him very unfairly. He is an extraordinary person ," former President Trump said at the time.

Lord Ratcliffe was given a second chance and he promised lawmakers that he would make sure that the United States' intelligence agencies would provide the country with "the straight truth", as he put it.

He also clashed with lawmakers over the declassification of intelligence related to allegations of Russian election meddling.

He opposed interference from Iran, Russia and China.

"There is nothing more sacred in our republic than the basic democratic principle - one person, one vote ," declared Mr. Ratcliffe.

President-elect Trump is entrusting the efforts of the next four years of the American intelligence services to an experienced person and a promising politician./ VOA