Tulsi Gabbard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tulsi Gabbard
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 8th Director of National Intelligence | |
| Assumed office February 12, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Aaron Lukas (nominee) |
| Preceded by | Avril Haines |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Mazie Hirono |
| Succeeded by | Kai Kahele |
| Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee |
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| In office January 22, 2013 – February 27, 2016 |
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| Chair | Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
| Preceded by | Mike Honda |
| Succeeded by | Grace Meng |
| Member of the Honolulu City Council from the 6th district |
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| In office January 2, 2011 – August 16, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Rod Tam |
| Succeeded by | Carol Fukunaga |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 42nd district |
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| In office November 5, 2002 – November 2, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Moses |
| Succeeded by | Rida Cabanilla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 12, 1981 Leloaloa, American Samoa |
| Political party | Republican (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (2002–2022) Independent (2022–2024) |
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| Relatives | Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard (aunt) |
| Education | Leeward Community College Hawaii Pacific University (BS) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 2003–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | 440th Civil Affairs Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |
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Tulsi Gabbard (born April 12, 1981) is an American politician and military officer. Since February 2025, she has served as the eighth Director of National Intelligence (DNI). This role makes her the top intelligence advisor to the President. She holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Before her current role, she was a U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021.
Gabbard was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii from 2002 to 2004. She joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and served in the Iraq War from 2004 to 2005. She also served in Kuwait from 2008 to 2009. In 2012, Gabbard became the first Samoan American and Hindu American member of U.S. Congress. She was a Democrat for many years but joined the Republican Party in 2024.
Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Early Political Career
- United States House of Representatives (2013–2021)
- 2020 Presidential Campaign
- Post-Congressional Activities (2021–2025)
- Director of National Intelligence (2025–present)
- Domestic Policy Positions
- Foreign Policy Positions
- Personal Life
- Military Awards and Decorations
- Awards and Honors
- See also
Early Life and Education
Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa. She was the fourth of five children. In 1983, when she was two, her family moved to Hawaii. Her father, Mike Gabbard, has Samoan and European roots, and her mother, Carol, was born in Indiana.
Gabbard grew up in Hawaii. Her parents owned a vegetarian restaurant. As a child, she enjoyed surfing, martial arts, and yoga. She was mostly homeschooled and learned about karma from the ancient Indian text Bhagavad Gita. As a teenager, she became a follower of the Hindu faith.
Both of Gabbard's parents became politicians. Her father became a Hawaii State Senator, and her mother joined the Hawaii Board of Education. When she was 21, Gabbard left Leeward Community College to run for the Hawaii state legislature. She became the youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative. In 2009, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University.
Military Service
In April 2003, while serving in the Hawaii State Legislature, Gabbard joined the Hawaii Army National Guard. In July 2004, she was sent to Iraq for a 12-month tour. She served as a specialist with a medical unit. She received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for her service in combat. Because of this deployment, she decided not to run for re-election to the state legislature.
In March 2007, Gabbard completed the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy. She was the first woman to finish at the top of her class. She became a second lieutenant and served in Kuwait from 2008 to 2009 as an Army Military Police officer. She was one of the first women to enter a Kuwaiti military facility.
On October 12, 2015, she was promoted from captain to major. In June 2020, she transferred to the United States Army Reserve. On July 4, 2021, Gabbard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She was deployed to the Horn of Africa as a civil affairs officer.
Early Political Career
Hawaii House of Representatives (2002–2004)
In 2002, Gabbard won the Democratic primary for the 42nd district of the Hawaii House of Representatives. She then won the general election. At 21, she became the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii's history. She was also the youngest woman elected to a U.S. state legislature at that time.
In 2004, Gabbard decided not to campaign for a second term because she volunteered for Army National Guard service in Iraq.
Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)
After returning from her second deployment in 2009, Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council. She won the election in November 2010. The seat represented parts of downtown Honolulu.
While on the council, Gabbard worked on measures to help food truck vendors. She also introduced a bill that allowed city workers to remove personal belongings left on public property after giving notice.
United States House of Representatives (2013–2021)
Serving in Congress
In 2011, Mazie Hirono, the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, announced she would run for the U.S. Senate. Gabbard then announced her candidacy for the open House seat. She won the primary election with 55% of the vote. She resigned from the Honolulu City Council in August 2012 to focus on her campaign.
Gabbard was invited to speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She spoke about her military background and praised President Barack Obama. In the general election, she won with 80.6% of the vote. She became the first voting Samoan American and first Hindu member of Congress.
In March 2013, she introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act. This bill aimed to make airport security screening faster for severely wounded veterans. It passed both parts of Congress and was signed into law by President Obama.
Gabbard was reelected in 2014 and 2016. She co-sponsored a bill to give the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino and Filipino American veterans of World War II. This bill also became law.
In 2017, she introduced the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act. This bill aimed for the U.S. to use 100% clean energy by 2035. In 2018, she introduced the Securing America's Election Act, which required all voting districts to use paper ballots.
Gabbard was reelected in 2018. In September 2018, she co-sponsored the No More Presidential Wars Act. This bill aimed to confirm that Congress has the power to declare war.
On October 25, 2019, Gabbard announced she would not seek re-election in 2020. She was focusing on her presidential campaign. After ending her presidential campaign in March 2020, she returned to regular attendance in Congress.
House Committee Assignments
During her time in Congress, Gabbard served on several important committees. She focused on military, foreign affairs, and financial issues. She was a long-time member of the House Armed Services Committee. Here, she worked on defense funding and military readiness.
- Committee on Armed Services (2013–2021)
- Committee on Foreign Affairs (2013–2019)
- Committee on Financial Services (2019–2021)
Democratic National Committee (DNC)
On January 22, 2013, Gabbard was chosen as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In September 2015, she criticized the DNC chair's decision to limit the number of debates for the 2016 Democratic primary.
Gabbard resigned as DNC vice chair in February 2016 to support Bernie Sanders for president. She later gave the nominating speech for Sanders at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
2020 Presidential Campaign
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In February 2019, Gabbard officially started her campaign for president. She was the first female combat veteran to run for president. Her foreign policy focused on avoiding military interventions, and her economic ideas were aimed at helping regular people.
During the debates, Gabbard was often searched for online. She questioned Kamala Harris's record as attorney general. She also spoke about meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying she would meet with anyone if it could help achieve peace.
In October 2019, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that Gabbard was a "Russian asset." Other Democratic candidates like Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, and Bernie Sanders defended Gabbard. Gabbard herself strongly criticized Clinton's comments.
On March 3, 2020, Gabbard earned two delegates in American Samoa. This made her the second woman of color and the first Asian-American and Pacific-Islander presidential candidate to earn primary delegates. On March 19, 2020, she ended her campaign and supported Joe Biden.
Post-Congressional Activities (2021–2025)
After leaving Congress in January 2021, Gabbard started her own podcast. She also appeared on Fox News programs. She criticized some Democratic leaders and supported conservative positions on issues like transgender rights and border security.
In 2022, Gabbard spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). On October 11, 2022, she announced she was leaving the Democratic Party. She said the party was "hostile to people of faith" and "dragging us closer to nuclear war."
Party Switch
After leaving the Democratic Party, Gabbard supported several Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections. She endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election in August 2024. The next day, she was named an honorary co-chair of his presidential transition team. On October 22, 2024, she announced she was joining the Republican Party.
Director of National Intelligence (2025–present)
Nomination and Confirmation
On November 13, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He mentioned her military experience and leadership.
Some Republican senators supported her nomination. They said that political differences do not mean disloyalty. Many veterans and former national security officials also supported her. They noted her military service and experience in Congress.
However, her nomination also faced criticism. Some media outlets and Democrats raised concerns about her past meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They also questioned her views on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Critics said she lacked intelligence experience.
Gabbard testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on January 30, 2025. She promised to keep her political views separate from her official duties. She denied knowing Edward Snowden while he worked for the NSA. She also defended her past calls for changes to the Espionage Act.
On February 12, 2025, the Senate confirmed her nomination in a 52–48 vote.
Tenure
Gabbard was sworn in as the 8th Director of National Intelligence on February 12, 2025. She became responsible for leading 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. She is the first female military combat veteran to serve as DNI. She is also the first Pacific Islander American and first Hindu American to hold a Cabinet-level position.
After being sworn in, Gabbard traveled to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. In March 2025, she visited Asia, including Japan, Thailand, and India. In India, she spoke at a security conference and talked about the Trump administration's plan for global peace.
In March 2025, information about U.S. attacks in Yemen was shared in a group chat that leaked to a journalist. Gabbard admitted sharing the information was a "mistake" but said it was not classified.
In May 2025, Gabbard announced that U.S. intelligence would focus more on border security and counterterrorism. She also moved the National Intelligence Council (NIC) closer to her office.
Domestic Policy Positions
Gabbard's views on domestic policy have changed over time. While she was a Democrat, she held more liberal views. After 2020, she took positions that align more with the Republican Party on social issues.
Immigration
In 2015, Gabbard supported stronger border security. She voted with Republicans for checking Iraqi and Syrian refugees more carefully. She also called for stopping the visa waiver program until terrorist threats were resolved. By 2022, she said she would consider a border wall if experts thought it was needed.
Environment
Gabbard has often supported the causes of Native Americans. She supported the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016. She also worked to reexamine the safety of the Runit Dome, a leaking nuclear waste site.
Gabbard has supported a Green New Deal but also proposed her own "Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act" to move the U.S. to renewable energy.
Healthcare
Gabbard has supported a national healthcare insurance program. She has also advocated for a two-tier universal health care plan, which she calls "Single Payer Plus." This plan would allow both public and private insurance.
She has also worked to bring back Medicaid eligibility for people from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau living in the U.S. She has called for addressing the national nursing shortage.
Food and Agriculture
Gabbard supports clear GMO labeling on food. She has also supported efforts to reduce antibiotic use in livestock and promote organic farming.
She has expressed concern about farmer bankruptcies. In 2019, Gabbard supported stopping the building of new factory farms.
First Impeachment of Donald Trump
Gabbard voted "present" when the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump in December 2019. She said her vote was a protest against a "political zero-sum game". She also introduced a resolution to censure Trump for some of his foreign policy decisions.
LGBTQ Rights
Gabbard's views on LGBTQ rights have changed over the years. In her early years, she supported her father's campaign against gay marriage. However, in 2012, she apologized for her past views. She said her experiences in the military changed her mind.
In June 2013, she supported repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). She was also a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus.
In 2020, Gabbard and Republican U.S. representative Markwayne Mullin introduced the "Protect Women's Sports Act." This bill aimed to define Title IX protections based on a person's biological sex. In 2022, Gabbard supported the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act. This law limits classroom discussions about gender identity in Florida public schools.
Foreign Policy Positions
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In her foreign policy views, Gabbard has strongly opposed Islamist groups in the Middle East. She has supported tough actions against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. She describes herself as a "hawk" against terrorists but a "dove" against "counterproductive wars of regime change." She believes the U.S. should reduce military interventionism.
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Personal Life
Gabbard lived in Hawaii for most of her childhood and enjoys surfing. She practices morning yoga and meditation. She is a vegetarian. Gabbard grew up with Hindu values and follows the Vaishnava tradition. She describes herself as a Karma Yogi. In 2013, she took her oath of office with her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
Gabbard has worked on efforts for military veterans. She has also participated in Diwali celebrations, the Hindu festival of lights, in Washington, D.C. She supported the campaign for a Diwali commemorative stamp in the United States.
Gabbard's parents were involved with the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a Vaishnava-affiliated organization. Gabbard's mother gave all her children Sanskrit names. Tulsi is named after Tulsi, a sacred plant in Hinduism. Gabbard has often said that the teachings of "selfless action" from the Bhagavad Gita inspired her social work. In 2014, she gave a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In 2002, Gabbard married Eduardo Tamayo. They divorced in 2006, and she mentioned the stress of war on military families as a reason. In 2015, Gabbard married Abraham Williams, a freelance cinematographer. He is Hindu and has European and Samoan ancestry.
Gabbard often greets people with the Aloha salutation. She says it means "I come to you with respect and with love." She has a lifelong appreciation for Hawaiian culture and its Aloha spirit.
Military Awards and Decorations
Army Combat Medical Badge
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserves Service Medal with M device
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Reserve Training Ribbon
Awards and Honors
On November 25, 2013, Gabbard received the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. This was for her work helping veterans. In March 2014, Elle magazine honored her on its "Women in Washington Power List."
On February 26, 2015, Gabbard received the National Association of Counties County Alumni Award. On July 15, 2015, she received the Friend of the National Parks Award.
On September 30, 2018, Gabbard received the Ho'ola Na Pua Advocacy Award. On October 16, 2018, she was honored as Hawaii Pacific University's 2018 Paul T. C. Loo Distinguished Alumni.
The Second Amendment Institute gave Tulsi Gabbard the Champion's Award on June 20, 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Tulsi Gabbard para niños
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
- List of Hindu members of the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
