Asked by Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich about her 2017 trip to the Middle Eastern country, Gabbard said she met with al-Assad and "asked him tough questions about his own regime's actions," including the "use of chemical weapons and brutal tactics being used against his own people."

Senators are expected to ask about her defense of the former government contractor, who released reams of data on U.S. surveillance programs and fled to Russia.

Gabbard's career was once defined by championing progressive causes but has since pivoted to sharp criticism of Democrats.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, testifies Thursday before the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard is expected to face questions on her 2017 visit to Syria at her confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence Thursday.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, is expected to face tough questions from lawmakers Thursday over past comments about Russia and a 2017 visit with Syria's now-deposed leader.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's nominee to serve as the director of national intelligence, will testify Thursday morning at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 43-year-old former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran would oversee the nation's 18 spy agencies.

In the first of two days of hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wasn’t antivaccine as senators pressed on his past remarks. Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel have hearings today, and RFK Jr. faces another panel.

Ms. Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, was briefly subject to special scrutiny on airline flights last year, but not, officials say, for the partisan reasons she has alleged.

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, goes before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday for what’s expected to be a contentious session focusing on her views on major foreign policy challenges,

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence, is facing tough questions from lawmakers during a confirmation hearing Thursday