Tulsi Gabbard Withdraws Daniel Davis’s Appointment Amid Backlash
In a significant move, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, decided to pull back the consideration of Daniel Davis for a top intelligence post after facing criticism from within President Trump’s coalition. Davis, a senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities, was undergoing a background check to become the Deputy Director for Mission Integration, a position that oversees the President’s Daily Brief (PDB). The PDB is a critical document that summarizes intelligence assessments for the President and other top policymakers. However, news of Davis’s potential appointment sparked controversy, particularly among some members of Trump’s coalition, leading Gabbard to reconsider her decision.
Daniel Davis and His Controversial Foreign Policy Views
Daniel Davis, known for his skeptical views on U.S. military interventions overseas, has been a vocal critic of American involvement in the Middle East. As a senior fellow at Defense Priorities, a think tank funded by Charles Koch, Davis has expressed reservations about the war in Gaza and the broader U.S. support for Israel. His critiques have often aligned with the views of liberal Democrats, who have also raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict on Palestinians. Davis has gone so far as to describe the removal of Palestinians from Gaza as “ethnic cleansing” and has criticized U.S. support for Israel’s military actions as a “stain on our character as a nation.”
The Backlash and Its Implications
The backlash against Davis’s proposed appointment was swift and intense. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the potential appointment, calling it “extremely dangerous” and accusing Davis of minimizing Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and undermining American support for Israel. Hawkish conservatives in Congress also expressed concerns, arguing that Davis’s skepticism of the war in Gaza could weaken the Trump administration’s support for Israel. Former intelligence officials, including Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA operations officer, criticized Davis’s views as being outside the ideological mainstream of the Republican Party. Polymeropoulos noted that Davis’s opposition to military action against Iran and his criticism of Israel ran counter to the administration’s policies.
The Broader Foreign Policy Divide in the Trump Administration
The controversy over Daniel Davis’s appointment has highlighted a growing foreign policy fault line within the Trump administration. The administration has appointed both hawkish Republicans, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and officials like Tulsi Gabbard, who are more skeptical of U.S. interventions abroad. This ideological tug-of-war is reflective of the broader debate within the Republican Party about the role of the United States in global conflicts. While some within the administration and the party advocate for a more assertive foreign policy, others, like Gabbard and Davis, argue for a more restrained approach that prioritizes American interests and avoids costly military entanglements.
Allies Defend Daniel Davis Amid Criticism
Despite the intense backlash, allies of Daniel Davis have defended his views, arguing that his skepticism of U.S. military interventions is rooted in a commitment to American interests and not motivated by antisemitism or opposition to Israel. They emphasize that Davis’s criticisms are focused on the effectiveness of U.S. policies and the potential consequences of military action, rather than Israel itself. For instance, Davis has expressed concerns about the use of proxies in conflicts, arguing that the United States should avoid putting its own troops in harm’s way unless it directly aligns with national interests. His defenders also point out that Davis’s views on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza are not unique and are shared by many liberal Democrats who are critical of Israel’s actions.
The Role of the Deputy Director for Mission Integration
The Deputy Director for Mission Integration is a powerful position within the intelligence community, responsible for overseeing the compilation of the President’s Daily Brief. The PDB is a critical tool for the President and top policymakers, providing them with the latest intelligence on global developments. During the Biden administration, the head of mission integration was responsible for conducting many intelligence briefings at the White House. In the current Trump administration, the role has continued to be a key position, with senior CIA analysts and former officials like Beth Sanner playing significant roles in shaping the content of the PDB. The withdrawal of Daniel Davis’s appointment underscores the high stakes involved in selecting the right candidate for this position, as it has the potential to influence the President’s decisions on critical foreign policy issues. The decision to pull Davis’s appointment suggests that Gabbard and the administration are mindful of the political and ideological sensitivities surrounding U.S. foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Israel and the Middle East.
