Rubio backs Gabbard for DNI as she faces tough confirmation fight

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Wednesday endorsed former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence.

"She's going to be a great DNI, Director of National Intelligence. It's a really important job," he said. "And it's in need of reform."

Gabbard faces scrutiny from Senators over her past support for non-intervention in Syria and prior meetings with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. She and Trump, however, have doubled down on that position in recent days amid the fall of his regime.

Rubio, meanwhile, faces his own confirmation hearings to lead the State Department and it remains unclear whether he will be in the Senate to vote for Gabbard.

"If I'm here, I look forward to voting for you," he joked.

Gabbard met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to build support for her nomination.