Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard has spoken out about the "incredible mandate" delivered by the "American people" after President-elect Donald Trump nominated her to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
Trump announced on Wednesday that Gabbard, who served four terms representing Hawaii in Congress before switching parties, would help champion constitutional rights and secure "peace through strength."
Gabbard told Fox News' Jesse Watters: "We had a great conversation and talked a little bit about the work that needs to be done and I was grateful and honored to accept President Trump's offer to serve our country and support his objective to defend the safety, security and freedom of the American people as the Director of National Intelligence."
When Watters asked Gabbard about possible resistance "from the inside," she said: "The American people delivered quite an incredible mandate for change in this election—with the popular vote and the electoral vote overwhelmingly saying: 'Hey we want Donald Trump as president and we've had enough of the Harris-Biden regime'."
Several of Trump's Cabinet nominations have raised concerns, including his pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, and defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Newsweek has emailed Gabbard for comment.
"Of course there's going to be resistance to change from the swamp in Washington," Gabbard said, "I think that's kind of the point."
She added: "The American people are saying: 'Hey, stop looking at yourselves, stop focusing on your own power, your own position, your own bank accounts, how about we have leaders in Washington who are actually looking out for the American people'."
Gabbard went on to encourage her former Democratic colleagues to "work together and put the American people first and uphold, support and defend the Constitution," saying she had already received calls from some who are still serving in office.
Gabbard served in the Army National Guard for over two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. She served in the field medical unit in Iraq and was an Army Military Police platoon leader in Kuwait. She later became a Major with the Hawaii National Guard and in 2021 she was promoted to Lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
From 2013 to 2021, Gabbard served as Democratic representative for Hawaii's district 2. She was the first Samoan-American member of Congress, and when she started her political career in 2002 she became the youngest woman to get elected to the Hawaii state legislature.
While in Congress, Gabbard took on Islamic terrorism in the Middle East. She often criticized then-President Barack Obama on his stances.
Gabbard left the Democratic Party in October 2022 to become an independent, before endorsing Trump in August this year.
In October, Gabbard said she decided to join the Republican Party while she was addressing the crowd at Trump's rally in North Carolina.
"To those of you here or those watching at home who are independent-minded people like myself, who love our country and are committed to the Constitution and to freedom, the Democratic Party has no home for people like us," Gabbard said. "But we do have a home in the Republican Party where we are welcomed with open arms by President Trump."
In Trump's nomination statement, he said Gabbard has "broad support in both parties" and "puts country before party."
Gabbard responded in a post on X saying: "Thank you Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve as a member of your cabinet to defend the safety, security and freedom of the American people. I look forward to getting to work."
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