Tulsi Gabbard has officially been confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump. The US Senate approved her nomination with a 52-48 vote, with all Democratic senators and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell opposing her appointment. She will replace Avril Haines and oversee 17 intelligence agencies.
Once met with skepticism due to her controversial political history, the 43-year-old military veteran and former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii has gained favor among Senate Republicans. Gabbard, a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s policies on Ukraine, has often echoed views that align with Russia. She previously called for Ukraine to remain neutral and stay outside NATO, a stance that received backlash from both Democrats and some Republicans.
More recently, she condemned pro-Palestine demonstrations in the US, referring to protesters as “puppets” of Hamas. Her past actions, including a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and support for Edward Snowden, had previously fueled doubts about her foreign policy stance.
Despite common misconceptions, Gabbard is not of Indian descent. Her mother converted to Hinduism, giving her and her siblings Sanskrit names. She made history as the first Hindu member of the US House of Representatives and took her congressional oath on the Bhagavad Gita. In 2019, she gifted the same scripture to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in New York.
Her outspoken advocacy for Hindus, especially regarding issues in Bangladesh and Pakistan, has strengthened her support among Hindu Americans. Since her early political career, she has maintained a strong backing from this community. In 2015, she married cinematographer Abraham Williams in a Hindu ceremony attended by BJP leader Ram Madhav, who conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Modi.
