Trump 'scrambling' to salvage nomination of controversial pick: report

Officials in President Donald Trump's administration are reportedly "scrambling" in an all-hands-on-deck operation this weekend to gin up support for Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard.

Axios reported recently that Senate Republican Conference chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has turned the conference's official X account into an unofficial Tulsi Gabbard "war room," in an effort to get her across the crucial first hurdle in her confirmation battle. Gabbard will need every Republican vote in the Senate Intelligence Committee to advance her nomination to the full Senate, and more than one Republican has indicated hesitancy in their support of Trump's pick to lead the United States' 18 spy agencies.

According to the outlet, the Trump administration is focusing particularly on convincing Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) to back the former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and military veteran. During Gabbard's confirmation hearing this week, Young and other senators confronted her on her refusal to call National Security Agency contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden a "traitor."

READ MORE: 'She lied to us': Ex-Gabbard staffers speak out about 'insane' meeting with Syrian dictator

Trump is reportedly considering reaching out to Republicans on the Intelligence Committee to assure them that he would not pardon Snowden — who was granted political asylum in Russia by President Vladimir Putin — in order to ensure they vote for Gabbard's confirmation. One unnamed Trump advisor told Axios that "the president will have those conversations" if necessary.

"We feel OK about Tulsi's chances," an anonymous senior White House official told the outlet. "But we want to feel better."

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are among the other senators that could vote with Democrats against Gabbard's confirmation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) already suggested that he wouldn't bring Gabbard's nomination before the full Senate if she failed to win over all nine Republicans on the Intelligence Committee. But MAGA activists are already promising to back primary challenges against any Senate Republican who votes against Gabbard.

"We are 100% serious," said Andrew Kolvet, who is a spokesperson for Turning Point Action. "GOP senators in red states will open themselves up to well-funded, well-organized primary challenges if they stand in the way of confirming the Cabinet the president wants and the American people voted for."

READ MORE: 'Email Putin all our war plans': Experts blast Trump for picking 'Russian spy' Gabbard as intel chief

Click here to read Axios' report in full.