Trump calls Tulsi Gabbard ‘hottest in the room’ after release of report alleging 2016 election conspiracy

WASHINGTON, DC: At a White House reception Tuesday night, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back his admiration for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, dubbing her the “hottest person in the room”, a nod to her growing clout after releasing a controversial report that questioned the long-accepted findings on Russia’s role in the 2016 election.

The president's use of “hotter” was less about looks and more about Gabbard’s rising star within his administration, a phrase he also used to hype up the country during his remarks.

Trump applauds Tulsi Gabbard for report accusing Obama of 'treason'

Speaking before members of Congress and White House guests, Trump said, “Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi, she is like hotter than everybody. She is the hottest one in the room right now.”

He praised her work on the report that accuses former President Barack Obama and his administration of orchestrating a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Trump accused Obama of leading a group that “cheated” in the election and labeled the actions “without question.”

Trump expressed confidence in Gabbard’s ongoing efforts, saying, “Tulsi, great job - and I know you have a lot more coming.”

Tulsi Gabbard’s report accuses Obama administration of election 'cheating'

Gabbard’s report, published Friday, alleges that officials within the Obama administration fabricated intelligence about Russian election interference to set the stage for a prolonged effort to remove Trump from office. She has forwarded criminal referrals to the Justice Department, claiming the actions amounted to a “years-long coup.”

This assertion starkly contradicts findings from multiple bipartisan investigations conducted between 2019 and 2023, which confirmed Russian interference aimed at benefiting Trump’s campaign.

The report also minimizes the extent of Moscow’s hacking activities, emphasizing emails that indicated no manipulation of state election systems, a point critics say ignores the broader scope of Russia’s influence operations.

Trump and Tulsi Gabbard push election ‘coup’ theory as investigations reaffirm Russian interference

A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report led by then-acting chairman Marco Rubio found that the Trump campaign actively sought to amplify stolen Democratic documents leaked by Russian military intelligence to maximize their impact on the 2016 election. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly dismissed the investigations as a “hoax.”

The political divide over the issue remains sharp, with Democrats accusing Gabbard of weaponizing her intelligence position to promote conspiracy theories, while Trump continues to assert baseless claims of treason against Obama’s administration.

Tensions rise as Trump embraces Tulsi Gabbard’s claims and Obama camp calls it a distraction

Trump’s praise for Gabbard comes as a renewed flashpoint in the ongoing partisan battles over the integrity of the 2016 election and the intelligence community’s role.

A spokesperson for former President Barack Obama issued a rare rebuke, dismissing President Trump’s vow to use the Justice Department to pursue treason charges against Obama as “ridiculous” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”

Meanwhile, Gabbard’s report has helped restore her standing with Trump, after recent uncertainty surrounding her political alignment. Trump ended his remarks by teasing more revelations to come, quoting Gabbard as saying, “You've seen nothing yet.”