The hearing began at 10 a.m. EST.

Gabbard took aim at Trump’s political enemies in her opening statement, including his 2016 election opponent Hilary Clinton, former President Joe Biden and Trump’s 2024 election opponent Kamala Harris. She said U.S. intelligence agencies have been politicized and abused.

“For too long, faulty, inadequate or weaponized intelligence have led to costly failures and the undermining of national security and God-given freedoms enshrined in the Constitution,” Gabbard said. “The most obvious example of one of these failures is our invasion of Iraq based upon a total fabrication or complete failure of intelligence.”

“The American people elected Donald Trump as their president not once but twice,” she continued. “Yet the FBI and intelligence agencies were politicized by his opponents to undermine his presidency and falsely portray him as a puppet of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

Gabbard added that viewers will hear “lies and smears” accusing her of being “Trump’s puppet, Putin’s puppet, [Syrian President Bashar al] Assad‘s puppet.” She accused Democratic senators of “anti-Christian bigotry” over their opposition to some of Trump’s past appointments, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., brought Gabbard’s loyalty into question from the outset, warning that U.S. allies may be hesitant or refuse to share intel with the United States if Gabbard is named director. He notes that there is no legal requirement for allies to share intelligence with the United States.

“It also leads me to question whether you can develop the trust necessary to give our allies confidence that they can share their most sensitive intelligence with us,” said Warner. “Make no mistake about it, if they stop sharing that intelligence, the United States will be less safe.”

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii, has echoed conspiracy theories trumpeted by the propaganda arm of the Kremlin. She has faced criticism from Democrats and Republicans who have voiced skepticism about her loyalties.

A longtime critic of U.S. intelligence agencies, Gabbard has said former National Security Agency contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden should be pardoned. The leak of classified documents on government surveillance programs was a service to the American public, according to Gabbard.

Republican Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., pressed Gabbard on her view of Snowden, asking her if she considers him a traitor to the United States. He said it is important to the committee that they hear Gabbard say Snowden is a traitor.

Gabbard declined to repeat that sentiment, instead saying she will focus on preventing a future “Snowden-type leak.” Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., continued to press Gabbard to say whether or not she believes Snowden is a traitor. She conceded that he broke the law but again did not say he is a traitor.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, shifted the conversation back toward Gabbard’s stance on pardoning Snowden. Gabbard walked back her past support for a pardon, assuring Collins she would not support or recommend a pardon or clemency for Snowden.

Warner remained concerned about Gabbard rising to lead the Department of National Intelligence, due in part to her support for Snowden.

“I don’t find your change of heart enough,” Warner said.

In 2022, weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, former Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. alleged that Gabbard’s statements were treasonous and potentially deadly.

“Tulsi Gabbard is parroting false Russian propaganda. Her treasonous lies may well cost lives,” Romney said on social media.

Gabbard argues that she upsets her political opponents because of her independence. After serving four terms in the U.S. House, she unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020 before leaving the Democratic Party.

She endorsed Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign.

“The truth is what really upsets my political opponents is my consistent record of independence, regardless of political affiliation, and my refusal to be anyone’s puppet,” Gabbard said. “You know who else is committed to defending our country and reforming Washington with a fierce and unparalleled independence, President Donald J. Trump who ran and won with a mandate for change this November.”

Gabbard is one of three nominees facing Senate panels Thursday. Trump’s choice for FBI director, Kash Patel, and director of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are also expected to face a difficult path to confirmation.

During her time in the U.S. House, Gabbard was critical of U.S. intelligence’s electronic surveillance program, carried out under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, calling it an overreach and violation of the rights of Americans. She sought to repeal the act in 2020.

After being introduced, no action was taken on Gabbard’s proposed Protect Our Civil Liberties Act.