U.S. President Donald Trump publicly praised Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, describing her as “hotter than everybody” after she released a report casting doubt on the established findings regarding Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election.
“Hottest Country” and Praise for Gabbard
During a gathering on Tuesday night, Trump used the term “hottest” to express enthusiasm not just for Gabbard but also for the United States, which he referred to as “the hottest country anywhere in the world.” He remarked, “Director of national intelligence, Tulsi, she is like hotter than everybody. She is the hottest one in the room right now.”
Accusations Against Barack Obama
In his speech, Trump shifted focus to former President Barack Obama, alleging that he was part of a group that “cheated” during the 2016 election. He accused Obama of “treason,” claiming that Obama led efforts to falsely associate him with Russian interference and undermine his presidential campaign.
“I am very happy with Gabbard,” Trump said. “Tulsi, great job — and I know you have a lot more coming.”
Gabbard’s Report Sparks Controversy
Tulsi Gabbard’s report has already made waves, as she sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department concerning claims that officials in the Obama administration engaged in a “treasonous conspiracy.” Gabbard contended that Obama and his team had fabricated intelligence about Russian election interference to orchestrate a years-long coup against Trump.
This assertion contradicts findings from multiple investigations conducted between 2019 and 2023, all confirming that Russia did intervene to assist Trump during the election.
Ongoing Investigations and Findings
Since the outset of these probes, Trump has labeled the investigations into Russian interference as a “hoax.” A bipartisan report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then acting chairman Marco Rubio, found in 2020 that the Trump campaign had attempted to “maximize the impact” of leaks from Democratic documents stolen by Russian military intelligence.
