Tulsi Gabbard, a former Congresswoman and U.S. military veteran, has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Known for her military service and political experience, Gabbard will bring her unique background to this key position. Trump praised her courage and dedication, stating that she would infuse a fearless spirit into the intelligence community.
Trump described Gabbard as a “proud Republican” and expressed confidence in her ability to defend constitutional rights and promote "peace through strength." He highlighted her bipartisan support as a former candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Military and Political Background
Gabbard has served in the Army National Guard for over 20 years, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. She represented Hawaii's second district in the U.S. Congress from 2013 to 2021 and was a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. Although she does not have specific experience in intelligence, her military background brings valuable insight to her new role.
First Hindu US Congresswoman
Gabbard is the first Hindu to serve in the U.S. Congress. Although her name often leads to assumptions of Indian heritage, she is of American Samoan descent. Her mother converted to Hinduism, and Gabbard has embraced the faith herself, even being sworn into Congress with the Bhagavad Gita. She identifies as Hindu, helping bring visibility to the Indian-American community in the U.S.
Switching from Democrat to Republican
In 2020, Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, opposing her party's stance on foreign interventions. After dropping out of the race, she left the Democratic Party in 2022, criticizing it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers” driven by "woke" ideology. She then joined the Republican Party, endorsed Donald Trump, and assisted his campaign, including preparing for the debate against Kamala Harris.
New Role as Director of National Intelligence
As the new DNI, Gabbard will oversee the U.S. intelligence community. Although her appointment has received mixed reactions, Trump believes her military experience and determination will make a positive impact on national security.
Gabbard is married to cinematographer Abraham Williams. Her father, Mike Gabbard, is a state senator who has served as both a Republican and a Democrat. Gabbard's diverse background and fearless advocacy are expected to make her a unique and influential leader in the intelligence community.
