Who is Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice to lead National Intelligence & first Hindu American in US Congress

Trump, while selecting Gabbard stated “For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans. As a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, she has broad support in both parties, she is now a proud Republican!”

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2024

Who is Tulsi Gabbard?

Born in American Samoa, Tulsi, 43 is a four time Congresswoman from Hawaii, Democrats’ 2020 presidential candidate, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who has served in Iraq. Gabbard doesn’t have a past experience of working in intelligence agencies but she has been active in politics since she was 21, when she became a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 42nd district.

She is married to Abraham Williams, who is a cinematographer and her father Mike Gabbard is a Hawaii State Senator who switched from Republicans to Democrats.

First Hindu in US House of Representatives

In the 113th Congress, Tulsi Gabbard became the first Hindu to have won a seat in the US House of Representatives in 2012 after defeating Republican Kawika Crowley by 168,503 to 40,707 votes (80.6%–19.4%). She also became the first American Samoan to win the Congress seat. During her first swearing-in ceremony, Gabbard took the oath of office by swearing on Bhagavad Gita. “I believe strongly in embracing diversity,” she had said at the time.

Presidential aspirations and Party transition

Tusli Gabbard was not a candidate for reelection to the 117th Congress in 2020 and instead took her shot to become the Democratic presidential candidate. Her campaign focused on American military interventions and progressive agendas. Though she later withdrew and supported President Joe Biden.

But in 2022, she eventually exited the Democratic party and accused that the party was being controlled by “an elitist cabal of warmongers” and “woke” ideologues.

Tulsi Gabbard then joined the Republicans in 2022 and gained prominence in Donald Trump’s circle. She endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential campaign and started appearing alongside Robert F Kennedy Jr to campaign for Trump. And now after Trump won the presidential bid with a thumping majority in the Senate and House of Representatives, he has included both Gabbard and Kennedy in his transition team.