Trump taps Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence

First Hindu in the US Congress joins Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy among the President-elect’s top advisors

By Arun Kumar

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman and the first Hindu in the US Congress, as his new director of national intelligence.

At 43, Gabbard, has little direct experience with intelligence work, although she did serve two years on the House Homeland Security Committee. She now steps into the pivotal role of overseeing 18 spy agencies step while serving as the president’s chief adviser on security matters.

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk to spearhead new Trump initiative (November 14th, 2024)

“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength,” Trump stated. “As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!”

Gabbard was deployed in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 as a major in the Hawaii National Guard and is now a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserves

Born in American Samoa, a US territory, and raised in Hawaii, with a brief stint in the Philippines during her childhood, she entered politics at a young age, securing a seat in Hawaii’s House of Representatives at just 21. However, her political career took a pause after one term.

Gabbard later returned to politics, winning a seat in Congress to represent Hawaii. She made history as the first Hindu member of the US House, taking her oath of office with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita.

Due to her first name, Gabbard is often mistakenly thought to have Indian heritage, but she has no direct connection to India. Her mother converted to Hinduism and chose Hindu names for all her children.

Her father, Mike Gabbard, is a state senator who began his career as a Republican before switching to the Democratic Party. Gabbard is married to Abraham Williams, a cinematographer.

In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, voicing strong opposition to US military involvement overseas.

She was vocal in criticising her own party for failing to resist these conflicts, contending that America’s wars in West Asia had not only destabilised the region, but also compromised national security and cost thousands of American lives

During a primary debate in the 2020 election, Gabbard made headlines by challenging Kamala Harris, then a senator, over her prosecutorial record. Eventually, Gabbard withdrew from the presidential race, throwing her support behind Joe Biden, who went on to become the President.

By 2022, Gabbard had severed her ties with the Democratic Party. Her criticisms of Biden and his administration grew sharper, accusing her former party of being controlled by an “elitist cabal of warmongers” and pushing “woke” ideologies.

Gabbard played an active role in Trump’s campaign, assisting him in preparing for his presidential debate against Harris.

She joins Indian American biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy among Trump’s top advisors.

Ramaswamy, a primary rival turned ardent supporter of Trump, has been picked with Tesla CEO Elon Musk to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new initiative aimed at running government operations efficiently, in the Trump 2.0 administration.