Nikki Haley Takes Aim at Gabbard and Kennedy Jr. on SiriusXM

Woman speaking into microphone beside American flags.

Nikki Haley criticizes Trump’s cabinet choices, calling Tulsi Gabbard a “sympathizer” of foreign adversaries.

At a Glance

Nikki Haley slams Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence
Haley accuses Gabbard of being sympathetic to Russia, Iran, Syria, and China
Former UN Ambassador urges Republican senators to reject Gabbard’s nomination
Haley also criticizes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary

Haley’s Critique of Gabbard’s Nomination

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has launched a scathing critique of President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Speaking on her SiriusXM show, Haley expressed deep concerns about Gabbard’s foreign policy leanings, characterizing her as sympathetic to countries often at odds with U.S. interests, including Russia, Iran, Syria, and China.

Haley, drawing from her experience in international diplomacy, highlighted several instances of Gabbard’s controversial stances. She pointed out Gabbard’s opposition to ending the Iran nuclear deal, her resistance to sanctions on Iran, and her objection to designating the Iranian military as terrorists. Haley argued that these positions make Gabbard unsuitable for the critical role of overseeing U.S. intelligence operations.

—>> Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivered a blistering critique of Tulsi Gabbard, the former congresswoman chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as director of national intelligence, calling Gabbard “a sympathizer” who is not qualified because of close ties to…

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 20, 2024

Gabbard’s Controversial Past

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who recently switched to the Republican Party and endorsed Trump’s campaign, has faced accusations of promoting Russian propaganda and supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Haley specifically condemned Gabbard’s 2017 meeting with Assad, which occurred amid allegations of his regime’s use of chemical weapons against civilians.

“She said she was skeptical that he was behind the chemical weapons attacks. Now, this to me is disgusting because Cheney, you and I were at the United Nations when Assad did those chemical attacks on those children. … And you can go back and look at a speech I gave holding up pictures of dead children who had been killed by chemical attacks. … For her to say that Assad was not behind that. Literally, everything she said about that, were Russian talking points.” – Nikki Haley

Haley’s criticism extends beyond Gabbard’s stance on Syria. She accused Gabbard of blaming NATO for Russia’s attack on Ukraine and opposing Trump’s trade war with China, further cementing her view that Gabbard’s foreign policy positions are misaligned with U.S. interests.

Call for Senate Rejection

In a direct appeal to her fellow Republicans, Haley urged GOP senators to oppose Gabbard’s nomination. She emphasized the critical nature of the Director of National Intelligence role, stating that it is “not a place for a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer.” Haley’s strong stance reflects her concerns about national security and the potential implications of having someone with Gabbard’s views in such a sensitive position.

“She opposed ending the Iran nuclear deal. She opposed sanctions on Iran. She opposed designating the Iran military as terrorists who say death to America every single day. She said that Donald Trump turned the U.S. into Saudi Arabia’s prostitute. This is going to be the future head of our national intelligence … [DNI is] not a place for a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer.” – Nikki Haley

Criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination

Haley’s criticism wasn’t limited to Gabbard. She also expressed disapproval of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ‘s nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary. Haley questioned Kennedy’s qualifications and background in health, pointing out his lack of formal education, training, or practice in the field. She suggested that while Kennedy might be popular for questioning food and vaccine contents, his potential decisions as head of a major agency could be concerning.

Haley proposed that Kennedy could serve in a more limited capacity, such as a health adviser focusing on raising awareness about food additives. This suggestion reflects her attempt to balance acknowledging Kennedy’s popular appeal while expressing reservations about his suitability for a cabinet-level position.

As the debate over these nominations continues, Haley’s outspoken criticism highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party and the complex dynamics surrounding Trump’s cabinet selections for his potential second term.