Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, where she was asked about her recent report on threats against the U.S. But one Democrat couldn't help but notice what Gabbard left out.
New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush posted on X, "Gabbard is refusing to explain why she omitted any threat assessment of foreign interference in US elections."
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) probed Gabbard on the specifics of her threat document, noting that the ODNI's 2026 annual threat assessment was the first since 2017 to not even mention foreign interference in U.S. elections.
"Last year, when you were already confirmed, it mentioned that at a high level," said Warner. "Are you saying there is no foreign threat to our elections in the midterms of this year?"
Gabbard said that her threat assessment only references the "prioritization of threats."
Warner interrupted. "Please answer yes or no. Is there a foreign threat of interference in our elections this year?"
Gabbard spoke over him, ultimately saying, "Please allow me to answer the question, sir." She then discussed ongoing data collection.
"Ma'am, you," Warner tried to cut in. "Excuse me, ma'am. If you wanted to ask the questions, you should have stayed in Congress. Please answer the question."
"I didn't ask you a question. I'm trying to answer your question," Gabbard said.
She never answered his question.
"So you're saying that the failure to provide any reports or the failure to have any mention of a foreign threat assessment, I would draw the conclusion that must be no foreign threat to our elections in 2026," Warner said. "So, that brings the question I have about you and [FBI] Director [Kash] Patel. There are reports that in 2020, the president was preparing an executive order potentially to seize ballots — bring in federal forces. There is a published report that there is a similar [executive order] being drafted right now about 2026, citing China. Director Patel, do you have any knowledge of that draft EO?"
Warner previously alleged that Gabbard is “not interested in protecting American democracy.”
“Both Kent and Gabbard have had less and less influence,” one House Republican told Politico, referring the recently resigned aide Joe Kent, who worked under Gabbard. “They’ve been sidelined.”
