Republicans are sending signals that they might not back Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence.

Senators are expected to ask about her defense of the former government contractor, who released reams of data on U.S. surveillance programs and fled to Russia.

Asked by Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich about her 2017 trip to the Middle Eastern country, Gabbard said she met with al-Assad and "asked him tough questions about his own regime's actions," including the "use of chemical weapons and brutal tactics being used against his own people."

Ms. Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, was briefly subject to special scrutiny on airline flights last year, but not, officials say, for the partisan reasons she has alleged.

The former Hawaii congresswoman isn’t just unqualified to be director of national intelligence, she’s a political opportunist.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, faces tough questions from senators on Russia, Syria and Edward Snowden.

Gabbard's career was once defined by championing progressive causes but has since pivoted to sharp criticism of Democrats.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, testifies Thursday before the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard, then a Hawaii congresswoman and Democratic hopeful for president, appeared on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast and made an impassioned case for pardoning Edward Snowden. The former U.S. intelligence contractor,

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to serve as the director of national intelligence, will testify Thursday morning at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 43-year-old former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran would oversee the nation's 18 spy agencies.

Here’s a look at the former Democrat’s personal life, following her appointment by President-elect Donald Trump as Director of National Intelligence.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, three of President Trump’s high-profile picks, on Thursday will make their cases for confirmation.