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President Trump defended Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s presence at an FBI search of a Georgia election facility, addressing criticism that her involvement exceeded her official duties.
“She took a lot of heat two days ago because she went in at Pam’s insistence. She went in, and she looked at votes… because Pam wanted her to do it,” Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, referring to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The president’s comments come amid growing scrutiny over Gabbard’s participation in a January 28 FBI search of Fulton County’s Election Hub and Operation Center near Atlanta. The federal agents seized materials related to the 2020 presidential election, including approximately 656 boxes of original election documents.
In response to congressional concerns, Gabbard wrote to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., explaining that President Trump had “specifically directed” her to be present during the search. The letter, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, was sent after Warner and Himes requested a briefing on her involvement.
Gabbard defended her actions as falling within her statutory authority, stating that her “presence was requested by the President and executed under my broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security, including counterintelligence, foreign and other malign influence, and cybersecurity.”
She further emphasized that the FBI’s Intelligence and Counterintelligence divisions are among the 18 intelligence elements she oversees as DNI. According to Gabbard, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Office of General Counsel had determined her actions were “well within my statutory authority.”
The FBI search in Fulton County sought specific items related to the 2020 general election, including all ballots, tabulator tapes from vote-counting scanners, electronic ballot images from the original count and recount, and all voter rolls. This search appears connected to an investigation Gabbard announced in April 2025 regarding electronic voting systems.
Fulton County officials have since filed a sealed motion seeking the return of the seized materials. The county’s legal action underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the 2020 election, which Trump has consistently maintained was not conducted fairly, despite his loss to former President Joe Biden.
The controversy highlights the complex intersection of election security, federal investigations, and the intelligence community’s role in safeguarding democratic processes. It also reflects continued partisan divisions over election integrity and the proper boundaries of federal oversight in state-administered elections.
Trump previously spoke about the matter at the premiere of First Lady Melania Trump’s movie “MELANIA” at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where he stated Gabbard was “working very hard on trying to keep the election safe.”
The FBI’s search of the Fulton County facility represents one of the most significant federal interventions into state election administration in recent years. Georgia, a critical battleground state that narrowly supported Biden in 2020 before backing Trump in 2024, continues to be at the center of election-related investigations and political controversy.
As the situation develops, questions remain about what evidence the FBI sought, what legal justification supported the search warrant, and what implications any findings might have for public confidence in America’s electoral systems.
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18 Comments
The DNI’s participation in this election-related search is quite unusual. While oversight is important, we must be vigilant about maintaining strict nonpartisanship in such matters. The integrity of our democracy is at stake.
I agree completely. Any perception of political interference, regardless of the intent, can undermine public trust. The process must be, and be seen to be, completely impartial.
This is a complex and sensitive issue. I hope the DNI’s involvement was truly driven by a desire for transparency and not political motivations. Maintaining public trust in our elections should be the top priority.
Well said. Transparency and impartiality are key. The American people deserve to have confidence in the fairness and integrity of our electoral system.
This seems like a highly unusual step for the DNI to take. While I understand the desire for oversight, I worry about the potential for political influence in such a sensitive matter. Impartiality is crucial.
Absolutely. The DNI should maintain a strictly non-partisan role. Anything that could be seen as undermining election security and public trust is very concerning.
While I understand the desire for oversight, the DNI’s participation in this search is highly unusual and raises red flags. We need to ensure that the integrity of our electoral process is protected at all costs, with no room for partisan influence.
Agreed. The involvement of the DNI, a senior intelligence official, in an election-related investigation is deeply concerning. Strict impartiality and transparency should be the top priorities here.
While I understand the desire for oversight, the DNI’s participation in this election-related search raises some troubling questions. We need to ensure strict impartiality and avoid any perception of political interference.
Agreed. The integrity of our electoral process must be protected at all costs, and that requires rigorous nonpartisanship from all government officials involved.
Interesting development. It’s concerning to see the Director of National Intelligence involved in a politically charged election investigation. I hope the process remains objective and transparent, regardless of who is present.
I agree, the DNI’s involvement raises some red flags. We need to ensure the integrity of our elections is upheld without partisan interference.
This is a complex and sensitive issue. I hope the DNI’s involvement was driven by a genuine concern for election integrity and not political motivations. Maintaining public trust in our democratic institutions is crucial.
Well said. The American people deserve to have confidence that our elections are secure and fair, free from any perception of partisan interference. Nonpartisanship must be the guiding principle.
This is a concerning development. The DNI’s involvement in an election-related investigation raises valid questions about the potential for political influence. Impartiality and transparency should be paramount.
Absolutely. The American people must have full confidence that our elections are secure and free from partisan interference. Rigorous oversight is important, but it must be conducted in a strictly nonpartisan manner.
I’m curious to learn more about the DNI’s specific role and rationale for being present during this search. Transparency around the process and decision-making is important for public confidence.
Good point. The public deserves a clear explanation of the DNI’s involvement and how it aligns with their official duties and responsibilities.