Mitch McConnell Stands Alone as He Votes Against Tulsi Gabbard and Calls Her a National Security Risk

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the only Republican senator to vote against Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation as the Director of National Intelligence, issuing a harsh rebuke of her qualifications and calling her a national security risk. Following the vote, McConnell released a scathing statement explaining his opposition, breaking dramatically with his party and signaling potential future clashes with former President Donald Trump’s administration.

CNN’s Manu Raju reported on Inside Politics with Dana Bash, highlighting McConnell’s concerns about Gabbard’s past statements and actions. “[McConnell] said, explaining his vote against her, he said the nation should not have to worry that the intelligence assessments the president receives are tainted by a director of national intelligence with a history of alarming lapses in judgment,” Raju reported.

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McConnell’s concerns centered on Gabbard’s prior comments about whistleblower Edward Snowden and her stance on Russia, both of which he believes compromise her ability to serve in the intelligence role. “He goes on to cite her past comments about Edward Snowden and about Russia and the like, and he said that he called her a quote, ‘unnecessary risk’ for this position,” Raju added.

McConnell’s opposition is particularly striking given that he was the lone Republican to vote against Gabbard’s confirmation. His decision also follows his recent opposition to Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense, making him one of only three Republicans to reject Trump’s pick for that role.

Raju noted that McConnell’s stance could be an indication of his evolving role in the Senate, now that he is no longer the Republican leader. “When he was leader, he was okay taking the arrows for his party, taking unpopular positions, even if he perhaps didn’t ultimately believe that that was the way he personally felt,” Raju explained.

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“But now he has said his shackles are off, that he’s no longer the Republican leader. As you can see, he’s sending a signal to President Trump.” McConnell’s vote and his willingness to publicly criticize Gabbard may set the tone for his future in the Senate. While many Republicans continue to align with Trump’s administration, McConnell’s break from the party signals a willingness to challenge key appointments, particularly on national security matters.

With growing speculation about how McConnell will navigate the next phase of his political career, his latest move suggests that he is unafraid to stand apart from his party—a shift that could have lasting implications for the Republican Senate caucus.