Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday that she has never knowingly met with leaders of Hezbollah while being questioned during her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate.

"Have you ever knowingly met with any members, leaders or affiliates of Hezbollah?" Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Gabbard. 

"No and it is an absurd allegation," she answered.

In 2017 it was reported that while a member of Congress, Gabbard went to Syria and Lebanon to meet with Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad. After the visit took place, The New York Times reported that she met with someone two Hezbollah officials referred to as "the boss."

Gabbard said that if confirmed to the post she would work to restore trust and end politicization in the intelligence community.

"President Trump's reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure and weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community and begin to restore trust in those who have been charged with the critical task of securing our nation," Gabbard said in opening remarks before the Senate Intelligence Committee. 

"If confirmed as DNI, I will do my best to fulfill this mandate and bring back leadership to the intelligence community with a laser focus on our essential mission: ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people." 

Gabbard referenced her experience serving in Congress and serving in the U.S. military as examples that have prepared her for the role. 

She also referenced times that the intelligence community was weaponized and politicized such as senior intelligence officials calling former first son Hunter Biden's laptop "disinformation."