President Donald Trump’s march toward unity appeared even to temper a years-long feud as insiders reacted to one special guest at DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s swearing-in ceremony.
Dredging up the past, in particular hoaxes, had been a mainstay of the 2024 presidential election as leftists from all walks touted claims of “suckers and losers” for example. Despite the best efforts to divide, Trump’s own work to grow the GOP tent had made strides in resolving the lasting feud with the family of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) as a source told Page Six it was “starting to dissolve.”
Specifically, the change in attitude had been reflected by the attendance of Meghan McCain and her husband, Ben Domenech, editor at large for The Spectator, at the ceremony for newly-minted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
“Saying I am proud doesn’t do this moment justice. I am so deeply honored and overwhelmed to witness this moment of my friend @TulsiGabbard being sworn in as our new Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office,” stated McCain on X Wednesday as she shared her own pictures from the occasion. “Thank you @POTUS for including Ben and me.”
Saying I am proud doesn’t do this moment justice. I am so deeply honored and overwhelmed to witness this moment of my friend @TulsiGabbard being sworn in as our new Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office. Thank you @POTUS for including Ben and me. pic.twitter.com/LXV5flobTc
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) February 12, 2025
Referring to Trump’s 2015 barb against the late senator’s POW experience during the Vietnam War that prompted the remark, “I like people who weren’t captured,” along with the non-invitation to McCain’s funeral among other examples, Page Six reported, “But Beltway insiders tell us that the process of confirming Trump’s intel pick Tulsi Gabbard has ended the standoff.”
“She called around senators and talked to holdouts, she went on Hannity to defend her and wrote an op-ed for the Spectator,” one insider told the outlet of McCain’s personal efforts to see Gabbard, the godmother of one of her children, confirmed as DNI.
Further, a source detailed to the outlet, “The White House thanked Meghan for her help in bringing moderates around to Gabbard,” and she was said to have received a personal message of thanks from Trump delivered by an aide. “Their feud is definitely starting to dissolve.”
“Meghan been supportive of MAGA in many was besides [supporting] Trump himself because of the way he talked about her dad [sic],” added the source.
Notably, the senator’s widow, Cindy McCain, had been an outspoken supporter of then-former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and was appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture as a result. She’d also been seen rubbing shoulders with dark money successor, Alex Soros.
Standing in stark contrast earlier in the week, Meghan McCain had juxtaposed the Biden administration’s failure of four years with the successes of Trump’s second term before a single month had elapsed as it concerned negotiating the release of political prisoners.
“Why couldn’t Biden bring Mark Fogel home? The man was in prison over three years and Trump took just 3 weeks to do it? Why was Biden unable or unwilling to make it happen? I genuinely want the answer here.”
Why couldn’t Biden bring Mark Fogel home?
The man was in prison over three years and Trump took just 3 weeks to do it?
Why was Biden unable or unwilling to make it happen? I genuinely want the answer here.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) February 12, 2025
