Joe Walsh criticizes Gabbard as 'Putin cheerleader'

Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, criticized former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) as a “cheerleader” of Russian President Vladimir Putin after she was tapped as President-elect Trump’s director of national intelligence.

During a Saturday discussion on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” Walsh slammed the choice of Gabbard for U.S. intelligence and Trump’s other Cabinet choices, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as leader of the Health and Human Services Department.

“These people have no business running these departments,” he said. “This is like a revenge against Dr. Fauci when it comes to RFK Jr., but Tulsi Gabbard, the best you can say about her is she’s a Putin cheerleader. That’s the best you can say.”

“It’s all about revenge for what Russia did in 2016,” Walsh said, as highlighted by Mediaite.

Trump announced Wednesday that he chose Gabbard to be director of national intelligence for his next administration. The decision surprised many and drew criticism.  

In the past, Gabbard shared content elevating false claims and Russian narratives that have been alarming to people on both sides of the aisle. She shared content implying the U.S. had previous involvement in Ukraine making biological weapons, which is a narrative created by the Russians.

"Joe Walsh is a washed-up, has-been Never Trumper who is crying himself to sleep every night because his entire existence as a war monger and death seeker is no longer relevant," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Hill. "He should take his massive loss and reevaluate his life choices. President Trump is the Peace President and he is the only person who can end wars and stop the killings, and he is surrounding himself with an Administration that will work toward those objectives."

Updated at 5:54 p.m. EDT