McConnell's 'conspicuous silence' rattles key Trump nominee: report

A powerful Republican senator's "conspicuous silence" is proving worrisome for President-elect Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, according to a report.

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has faced intense scrutiny over her nomination, with national security experts and Democratic lawmakers calling into question her qualifications for the role, including a stark lack of experience in the intelligence sector. To boot, critics have said her past remarks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine could undermine U.S. security and intelligence partnerships — and some have even gone as far as accusing her of parroting Russian propaganda.

As such, she's expected to face a difficult confirmation hearing.

And now, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is "studiously avoiding" any indications — public or private — about whether he'll back Trump's nominees, three people familiar with the matter told Axios. Gabbard's team worries she could be one of them.

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This comes as McConnell has publicly broken with Trump on multiple occasions, including over U.S. foreign policy.

“We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II,” he told The Financial Times last month. “Even the slogan is the same. 'America First.' That was what they said in the '30s."

Indeed, McConnell told colleagues on the Senate floor Thursday he'll back Trump's nominees for "senior national security roles whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities, in the pursuit of peace through strength," Axios reported.

However, Trump's transition team is confident Gabbard can pass her confirmation hearing, according to the report.