President Donald Trump‘s estranged niece, Mary Trump, warned of a possible “catastrophic outcome” with the confirmation of new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

On Wednesday, Gabbard was confirmed by the Senate in a 52-48 vote and then sworn in as DNI, a role that oversees America’s 18 intelligence agencies and organizations. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against her confirmation.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment on Friday.

Why It Matters

Gabbard, who serves in the U.S. Army Reserve, was one of Trump’s most controversial picks, with critics accusing her of previously voicing pro-Russian points and raising concerns about her visit with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017 when she was serving as a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii. With her new job, Gabbard will have access to information relating to national security.

What To Know

Mary Trump, a psychologist and outspoken critic of her uncle, wrote in a Substack post on Thursday of Gabbard: “One of the most powerful people in the cabinet is a known Russian asset, a defender of the murderous dictator Bashar al-Assad, and enemy to our ally (?) Ukraine.”

Gabbard has suggested that Russia was justified when it launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s government as a “corrupt autocracy.”

“There are many reasons Gabbard is unfit, but they lead to one potentially catastrophic outcome—having her in such a sensitive position will give our allies pause,” Mary Trump said. “Why should they trust us if they cannot trust that we will use any intelligence they share in a way that does not undermine or harm them? What if they stop sharing intelligence at all?”

How Did Gabbard Respond To Questions?

Gabbard was grilled by the Senate Intelligence Committee during her confirmation hearing late last month.

In her opening statement, she made clear that she has “no love for Assad or any dictator.”

Defending her meeting with Assad, Gabbard said: “I believe that leaders, whether you be in Congress or the president of the United States, can benefit greatly by going and engaging boots on the ground, learning and listening and meeting directly with people, whether they be adversaries or friends.”

During the hearing, Senator James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, repeatedly asked her to call Edward Snowden, a former national security contractor who leaked classified data in 2013 and then took refuge in Russia, a traitor.

As a congresswoman in 2020, Gabbard introduced legislation calling for all charges against Snowden, which included espionage, to be dismissed.

“I have shown throughout my almost 22 years of service in the military as well as my time in Congress how seriously I take the privilege of having access to classified information and our nation’s secrets. And that’s why I’m committed if confirmed as director of national intelligence to join you in making sure there is no future Snowden-type leak,” Gabbard said, falling short of calling Snowden a traitor.

Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas said to Gabbard in the hearing: “I want to make certain that in no way does Russia get a pass in either your mind or your heart, or in any policy recommendation you might make or not make.”

Gabbard said she was “offended” by Moran’s comments “because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.”

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, on Wednesday during Gabbard’s swearing-in ceremony: “Tulsi will work tirelessly to keep America safe.” Trump added that Gabbard was an “easy” pick for him.

Senator Mitch McConnell, in a statement on Wednesday: “The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is a key participant in the process that informs every major national security decision the President makes. The ODNI wields significant authority over how the intelligence community allocates its resources, conducts its collection and analysis, and manages the classification and declassification of our nation’s most sensitive secrets.

“In my assessment, Tulsi Gabbard failed to demonstrate that she is prepared to assume this tremendous national trust.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, on the floor before the vote: “Is Ms. Gabbard really who Republicans want leading Intelligence Agencies? I’ll bet not. Is she the best person we could find for the important position of Director of National Intelligence?”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in a statement on Wednesday: “From my experience in the military and in Congress, I know firsthand how critical accurate, unbiased, and timely intelligence is for the President, Congress, and our military to ensure the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.”

What Happens Next

In an op-ed for Newsweek, Gabbard said that if confirmed as the director of national intelligence, she would do her best to fulfill Trump’s “mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure, end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community (IC), and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation.”

There are several Trump Cabinet picks that still need to be confirmed by the Senate, such as his nominees for education secretary, Linda McMahon, labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, and United Nations ambassador, Elise Stefanik.