President-elect Donald Trump announced in a social media statement his pick of former Democratic House Representative Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii to be the Director of National Intelligence in his administration.
Born in American Samoa, Gabbard became the first practicing Hindu to serve in Congress when she was elected to the House of Representatives from Hawaii’s 2nd District in 2012. She served four terms in Congress between 2012 and 2020.
38 years of Indian American stories depend on what you do next. Stand with us today.
In 2020, she campaigned to be the Democratic nominee for the Presidential election but was unsuccessful in her bid. In 2022, she left the Democratic Party, stating that the party was “under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoking anti-white racism.”
In August 2024, she endorsed Donald Trump for President and joined the Republican Party last month.
Gabbard has also served in the military, with deployments and postings in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Horn of Africa, among others. Currently, she holds the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the United States Army.
Trump’s statement read, “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. Tulsi will make us all proud!”
In response, Gabbard took to X, to thank Donald Trump, “for the opportunity to serve as a member of your cabinet to defend the safety, security and freedom of the American people. I look forward to getting to work.”