Who Is Tulsi Gabbard, New US Intelligence Chief Overseeing 18 Spy Agencies?
Former Democratic representative-turned-Trump supporter Tulsi Gabbard has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) for his upcoming term. In her new role, Gabbard will supervise the United States’ 18 intelligence agencies.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard endorsed Trump earlier this year. A veteran and former Democratic presidential candidate, Gabbard “brings the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community,” Trump said in a statement. Known for her outspoken stance on U.S. foreign policy, including her opposition to supporting Ukraine, Gabbard thanked the President-elect, expressing her eagerness to begin her new role.
With Gabbard set to succeed Avril Haines as DNI, here are five key facts about her:
1. Early Life
Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa. At two, her family moved to Hawaii, where she later co-founded the Healthy Hawai’i Coalition, an environmental nonprofit, as a teenager. She graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University in 2009. Her father, Mike Gabbard, switched from the Republican Party to Democrats and currently serves as a Hawaii State Senator. Gabbard is married to Abraham Williams, a cinematographer.
2. Military Service
Gabbard has over two decades of experience in the Army National Guard, having served in both Iraq and Kuwait. In 2005, she was awarded the Combat Medical Badge for participating in combat operations under enemy fire in Operation Iraqi Freedom III, according to the Hawaii National Guard. Though she lacks high-ranking government roles like past DNIs, she has two years of experience on the House Homeland Security Committee.
3. First Hindu Elected to Congress
Gabbard was first elected to Hawaii’s House of Representatives at 21 but left after one term due to her deployment to Iraq. Later, she became the first Hindu and first American Samoan elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Hawaii. She took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita, marking a significant moment in American politics.
4. Presidential Bid and Departure from the Democratic Party
In 2020, Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, advocating against U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. Although she withdrew and endorsed Joe Biden, she later distanced herself from the Democratic Party, officially leaving in 2022.
5. Support for Trump
Gabbard’s support for Trump this year solidified her popularity among his base. In October, at a rally in North Carolina, she announced her shift to the Republican Party, criticizing the current Democratic Party as “completely unrecognizable.”
Gabbard’s appointment as the Director of National Intelligence marks a significant pivot in the leadership of U.S. intelligence. Known for her unconventional views, especially regarding U.S. foreign policy, Gabbard has often questioned the nation’s involvement in overseas military engagements, advocating instead for a more restrained and diplomatic approach. Her appointment signals a potential shift in the intelligence community’s strategic direction under Trump’s administration, with a possible emphasis on revisiting foreign alliances and recalibrating America’s global intelligence operations.
Despite her departure from the Democratic Party and her alignment with Trump, Gabbard has remained a polarizing figure across the political spectrum. Her outspoken stance on issues like surveillance and privacy protections has gained her both support and criticism. As she steps into her new role, analysts and insiders alike are watching to see how her leadership will influence the priorities and methods of America’s vast intelligence apparatus, especially as the U.S. navigates complex relations with global powers like Russia, China, and rising threats in cyberspace.
