From Asia, Tulsi Gabbard Hails Trump As ‘President Of Peace’ Amid Rising China Threat

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard praised the progress made at Asia’s premier security conference in an interview with Morning Wire, saying it proves that global leaders are willing to engage in diplomacy that further facilitates peace.

“The goal here within this region, as well as others around the world, is to be able to achieve [peace],” Gabbard told Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley. “That’s why these kinds of conferences are so important.”

Her remarks come after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at the conference that “any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.”

On April 1, the Chinese military announced large-scale drills in the waters surrounding Taiwan, saying they were meant as a warning and a forceful containment against the country’s independence, The Daily Wire reported. Hesgeth met with counterparts in Japan and the Philippines afterward, promising to counter China’s aggression.

Gabbard said the context of Hegseth’s statement at the conference is important, and that current indications show China does not intend to take military action.

“The overwhelming message that Pete delivered is the message that we hear from President Trump, which is that he is the president of peace,” Gabbard said.

Still, Gabbard told The Daily Wire that despite saber rattling from Beijing, it’s unlikely that they’ll engage in military action against regional rivals in the immediate future.

Asked how much the ongoing summit has focused on China, Gabbard said it has been a topic of conversation, but not the primary focus.

“Counterterrorism has been a really common topic that has come up from countries from across the region,” Gabbard said.

“The issue of transnational criminal organizations has been a predominant concern as well, and there’s been a lot of questions coming from other countries about some of the actions that we are taking under President Trump’s leadership, not only to secure our own borders, but to deal with the cartels who are trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics.”

Though fentanyl trafficking is a prominent issue for the United States, other countries report that traffickers’ drug of choice is methamphetamine, providing important insight into understanding the drivers of these criminal activities.

“The Biden administration’s last four years of, essentially, open borders … really rolled out the red carpet for these cartels to be able to … come in and out of our country and conduct these illegal activities,” Gabbard said. “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing more and more is how deeply entrenched they already are in our communities.”

Gabbard revealed that weapons and sex trafficking are also common issues throughout the Southeast Asian region, as well as the Middle East and Europe, harming more people than just American citizens. Her department is working closely with Attorney General Pam Bondi, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security to deal with these already existing threats in America.

“We are securing our border,” Gabbard assured. “It is more secure now than it has been in a very, very long time.”