Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew sat together at President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, while their futures in Washington remain uncertain.
Ms. Gabbard, a former Democratic House member and Army National Guard member who is Mr. Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s intelligence umbrella agency, faces a steep climb to winning support for confirmation on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have alredy approved banning Mr. Chew’s TikTok in the U.S. market.
The China-founded app is facing a ban from the U.S. government amid national security concerns while Mr. Trump has pledged to work to save TikTok from shutting down.
The juxtaposition of the spy chief nominee sitting adjacent to TikTok’s leader raised eyebrows in Washington.
Rush Doshi, assistant professor at Georgetown University, published a photo on X of the duo causing security concerns among lawmakers seated together. Mr. Doshi said the photo was shared with him by an eagle-eyed friend.
“Is that really the CEO of TikTok sitting next to the next Director of National Intelligence — Tulsi Gabbard — at President Trump’s inauguration? Evidently, yes,” Mr. Doshi said on X.
The duo appeared seated a few rows behind congressional leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and their Democratic counterparts, according to a photo published by Getty Images.
Ms. Gabbard, who met with outgoing intelligence community officials earlier this month, has faced delays reportedly urged by Senate Democrats, who harbor concerns about receiving the required background paperwork on her nomination.
Some Republicans are optimistic about Ms. Gabbard’s chances of confirmation. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, said Saturday she believed Ms. Gabbard would get confirmed and was working hard to answer senators’ questions.
“She has a great background for working in intelligence,” Ms. Blackburn told Fox News. “And her military service, her public service, I think at the end of the day, she’ll answer those questions and she will be confirmed by the Senate.”
While Ms. Gabbard’s future remains up in the air, Mr. Trump has sought to keep TikTok online.
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!” Mr. Trump said Sunday on Truth Social. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.