US Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Trump’s director of national intelligence

The 43-year-old is now set to take over from Avril Haines and oversee 17 US intelligence agencies.

Once viewed with suspicion due to her controversial past, the military veteran and former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii has gradually gained acceptance among Senate Republicans.

Tulsi Gabbard has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, with her statements often aligning with the Russian perspective. She previously urged the US, Russia, and Ukraine to set aside geopolitical tensions and accept Ukraine as a neutral country outside NATO, a stance that drew criticism even from within the Republican Party.

More recently, she condemned pro-Palestine protesters in the US, calling them “puppets” of a “radical Islamist organisation,” referring to Hamas. Initial concerns over her perceived pro-Russia stance, a meeting with deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and support for whistleblower Edward Snowden had cast doubt over her political alignment.

Indian-origin?

Despite frequent assumptions about her Indian heritage, Gabbard is not of Indian origin. Her mother converted to Hinduism and gave all her children Hindu names—her siblings are named Bhakti, Jai, Aryan, and Vrindavan.

As the first Hindu member of the US House of Representatives, Tulsi Gabbard drew attention when she took her oath of office with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita. Later, as a gesture of respect, she gifted the same copy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in New York in 2019.

Her outspoken views on the challenges faced by Hindus in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan have earned her significant recognition among Hindu Americans, further cementing her influence within the community.

Since the start of her political career, Hindu Americans have strongly supported her. In 2015, she married cinematographer Abraham Williams in a Hindu ceremony in Hawaii, attended by BJP leader Ram Madhav, who brought a special message and gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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