President Trump praised his new national intelligence chief American Samoan-born Tulsi Gabbard during a White House address to the nation’s governors, including Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
President Trump recognized top new cabinet officials recently confirmed by the Senate. Among them Tulsi Gabbard, born in Leloaloa Village…
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(Transc.) Trump: “Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Where’s Tulsi, is she here? Hi, Tulsi…I haven’t really seen you. Good luck! Do well! Have fun! We built a building, the building costs like 12 (B) billion dollars. The building’s loaded up with intelligence…lots of luck for you. Good!
And the president noted the challenge Gabbard faced amid total opposition from Democrats and Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, who announced he’ll retire next year.
Trump…
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(Transc.) Trump: “She was treated pretty rough for a person that’s an incredible patriot. We’ve all known that.”
Gabbard a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, served in Iraq and Kuwait. She was the first American Samoan to serve in the Congress representing Hawaii and in the president’s cabinet.
Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula is also here attending events with the nation’s governors.
While Pula’s plane was late and he just made the tail end of the annual IGIA meeting, he later met with State Department officials where he renewed his call for an audit of ASG local and federal funds.
