President Donald Trump's nomination of former Representative Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence brings renewed scrutiny to her controversial 2017 Syrian diplomatic mission.
According to Alternet, former staffers have revealed that Gabbard's unplanned meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad lasted approximately three hours, contradicting her previous statements about the nature of these encounters.
The all-expenses-paid trip to Syria, initially presented as a fact-finding mission to meet religious leaders and refugees, took an unexpected turn when Gabbard met with Assad twice.
Former staff members express deep skepticism about the spontaneity of these meetings, particularly given their extensive duration and the timing of the first meeting occurring shortly after her arrival.
One former staffer expressed strong doubts about Gabbard's account of the meetings being impromptu. Internal communications reveal that her team struggled to explain the encounters in mandatory ethics filings, particularly regarding the timing and circumstances of the meetings.
Cleveland-based activist Bassam Khawam, who had connections to pro-Assad groups, extended the invitation to Gabbard shortly before the 2016 election. The invitation mentioned meetings with Syria's foreign minister and other political figures but notably omitted Assad's name from the itinerary.
A former press secretary's email highlighted concerns about public perception, noting the contradiction between Gabbard's narrative and the appearance of a pre-planned presidential greeting. The campaign team sought to establish a coherent explanation for the timing discrepancies.
Assad's recent departure from Syria in December 2024, following his overthrow by rebel forces, adds new context to these revelations. The former Syrian leader, now living under Russian President Vladimir Putin's protection, faces accusations of killing hundreds of thousands of civilians during his regime.
The former Hawaii representative attempted to distance herself from the controversy by reimbursing approximately $9,000 for the trip. She argued this reimbursement eliminated the need to disclose travel expenses paid by Syrian and Lebanese governments.
A former staffer shared their perspective on the situation, stating:
Looking back, I will go to the grave believing that she lied to us. Her claim is that it just sort of happened. How did you just happen to meet with the leader of [a police state] not once, but twice?
The timing of these revelations coincides with Gabbard's nomination as director of national intelligence under the incoming Trump administration. This appointment has sparked significant debate given her controversial diplomatic history and previous interactions with Assad's regime.
The disclosure of these details raises questions about transparency and judgment as Gabbard faces the confirmation process. Her meetings with Assad, who was later deposed and faced accusations of human rights violations, have become central to discussions about her qualification for the intelligence position.
The scrutiny of Gabbard's 2017 Syria trip continues to influence political discourse as she prepares for potential Senate confirmation hearings. This development adds another layer of complexity to her nomination as America's potential next intelligence chief, particularly given Assad's recent exile and the evolving situation in Syria.
