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Trump Participates in the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Director of National Intelligence, Feb. 13, 2025

February 13, 2025 · The White House · 0:36:29

Embedded from the source channel — never re-uploaded. Watch on YouTube

What happened

President Donald Trump participated in the swearing-in of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office on Feb. 13, 2025, carried on the White House channel. The President recounted, as he told it, that Gabbard became the youngest woman ever elected to the Hawaii State Legislature at 21, joined the Hawaii Army National Guard after 9/11 and deployed abroad three times, continued to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Armed Services Committee. He described her as a courageous voice against attacks on free speech and the dangers of an unelected deep state, as he stated it.

Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath, with Gabbard’s hand on the Constitution, and the President said he would then sign her certificate.

Why it matters

The ceremony installs the Director of National Intelligence the President chose from outside his party’s ranks; his account of her record, stated at the swearing-in, is the administration’s own framing of that choice.

Sources: The White House, “President Trump Participates in Swearing In Ceremony for the Director of National Intelligence” (YouTube, 2025-02-13) - official description and broadcast transcript as aired.