Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Trump's Director of National Intelligence - deep-state fossil Mitch McConnell is lone 'Republican' to vote no | 12 Feb 2025 | The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as the country's top U.S. intelligence official despite some lawmakers sounding the alarm over her past actions. Gabbard was considered one of President Donald Trump's most controversial nominees when he named her his pick for Director of National Intelligence. The Senate voted 52 - 48 to confirm Gabbard to become the next DNI. Notably, the longtime former Republican leader Mitch McConnell voted against Gabbard's appointment to the role. He was the lone Republican 'no' vote on her confirmation. The final vote came after Gabbard, a former Democratic lawmakers and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, had her nomination moved favorably out of the Senate Intelligence Committee along party lines last week.