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The White House faces a decision on how to move forward with the director of National Intelligence Tullesi Gabbard: Wait and check if any GOP senator publicly opposes it or launching a pressure campaign like the one who helped Confirm Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Some Republicans came from Gabbard Confirmation audience this week Appearing -concerned and impressed by his responses to Edward Snowden, Government surveillance and his communication with foreign opponents. But no GOP senator has said they will oppose their candidacy.
This has left the White House and GOP allies feeling that it can happen.
“There is no need for a B plan because the plan A will work,” a Senate leadership assistant told The Hill. “No senator said they have not announced or opposed it. And those who have expressed more questions receive answers.”
Although Gabbard faces a high task like Hegseth, the climb is very different for her. Most Hegseth problems were derived from personal issues, including allegations of sexual assault, which echoed what Judge Brett Kavanaugh faced in 2018.
Gabbard’s problems, on the contrary, are almost exclusively related to policies. She has been a Democrat for two decades and has foreign policy opinions that differ from various Senate Republicans.
It also does not have a close relationship with conservative media such as Hegseth, a former news-ffox amfund, who received a backup from the Maga forces during the nomination struggles.
It is not yet known if Trump’s allies would do something similar for Gabbard.
“It’s unclear because it has not reached this level … I have not seen the same push. It has been more dispersed and not so concerted,” said a Senate GOP assistant, noting that the possibility is still there.
“The threat is still a price to be paid to oppose any of these boys,” the assistant continued. “It is clear that there will be a budget of them if they go the wrong way, but I am not sure how far or if it is the same as hegseth.”
Trump’s team has already released a candidate: the first Attorney General of the President, former representing Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)-Before he faced a committee vote because it was clear that there was not enough Republican votes for it to be approved.
A source near Trump’s team said Gabbard is not right now.
“I think she was clear with Gaetz quite quickly that she would lose. I don’t know if she’s so clear to her,” the source said. “You want to wait and see. They are focused on incorporating your team. “
The fountain added, “Hegseth besieged. It was like, soprano-so that they did for him. They had no punches.”
However, Republicans have been more open with their concerns about Gabbard after their Committee’s audience this week, where it seemed to have made few favors.
The legislators on both sides of the aisle pressed Gabbard on their previous support to forgive Snowden to reveal classified information on world governing surveillance programs. She would not say that Snowden is a “traitor” after being asked three times by GOP members, only that it violated the law.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo told Fox on Thursday He is worried about Gabbard’s candidacy after talking to his fellow Republicans.
“I am worried that his candidacy may be in danger,” Hawley said. “And I just worry about what this will mean.”
Gabbard cannot afford to lose a vote on the Intelligence Committee, which is divided between new Republicans and eight Democrats.
Sensing on Thursday, Sensan Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) They were considered their main obstacles on the board.
Collins indicated Was satisfied With his answers, but he remains indecisive. Previously, he was concerned that Gabbard had not changed his position in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Law, which allows for no guarantee surveillance of foreign goals.
His greatest obstacle after the audience could be Young, a former marine intelligence officer, who was visibly frustrated by Gabbard’s lack of will to label Snowden a traitor.
A second Senate GOP assistant echoed Hawley’s observation, telling the hill that GOP members and employees thought that Gabbard did a poor job before the committee and made several non -forced mistakes.
“They thought it was too combative to the softball issues of the Republicans,” the assistant said, specifically pointing out that he told Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) That he was “offended” by a question about whether Russia I would receive a “pass” when it comes to a policy recommendation. The exchange took place only hours after 64 people on a flight emanating from Wichita died after it crashed on the Potomac river after a collision with a military helicopter.
“The next day she faced a tragedy in her own state, which she had to capture for her, the assistant said. Performance. I don’t think you’ve met this bar. “”
Senators who are not of the Committee have also publicly or privately indicated their concerns with their candidacy. Senator John Curtis (R-Kutah), more moderate member, said he has “More questions than answers” after the audience.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) He has also made it clear to members who will oppose his candidacy if he reaches the ground.
The Senate procedure allows the complete chamber to overlook the result of the committee and advance a candidate on the floor through a rarely used process where no recommendation is made. Normally, candidates are voted “favorably” or “unfavorably”, but this would allow Gabbard to reach the flat despite the reserves of a senator – similar to how Mick Mulvaney moved to the vote to become director of the Management and Budget Office in 2017.
The leader of most Senate, John Thune (Rs.d.) said last week He does not see that being in the cards.
Gabbard has struggled to oust the senators from their First meetings at Capitol Hill In December, after which almost half a dozen sources told The Hill that attendees “did not go well.”
But a source known to Trump World Thinking said that the White House is “crushing -the” one “and moving forward with the Gabbard candidacy, as well as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the director and the director. of the FBI, Pick Patel.
And, Gabbard’s team was confident after his appearances on Capitol Hill this week.
“Lt. Colonel Gabbard was pleased to answer the committee’s questions in both open and closed doors sessions. Especially when we can focus on the threats that we face as a nation and how the DNI will maintain the North -American people sure and will restore confidence in the (Intelligence Community), “said Alexa Henning, spokesman for Gabbard. . “We stayed in Lockstep with (President of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tom Cotton) and we hope to receive questions from the Committee and his vote next week.”
Some Republican senators were also less bleak about the Gabbard perspectives than Hawley.
“We are in good shape,” said Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Who has been among those who work for Gabbard, but was not too confident in the place where he was before the sight.
Mullin believes that at this time, Gabbard could lose one on a committee and go to a vote of the plant that is not recommended, where he thinks he would lose two at this time. Refused to mention any name.
“I am very bullish (Kennedy), very bullish (Kash Patel), and I really feel, really good where we are with TLosi,” he added.
