Tulsi Gabbard — Biography
Tulsi Gabbard, a prominent American figure, now directs national intelligence, a role she assumed in 2025. Her military career spans decades, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2021. Before her current position, she represented Hawaii's 2nd congressional district as a U.S. representative from 2013 to 2021. A notable shift in her political affiliation occurred in 2024 when she joined the Republican Party, having previously been a Democrat. Her early political journey began in Hawaii, where she served as the youngest state legislator from 2002 to 2004. Gabbard's commitment to service was evident when she joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003. This led to a deployment in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, where she distinguished herself as a specialist in a medical unit, earning the Combat Medical Badge. Further military training included completing the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy in 2007, followed by a deployment to Kuwait in 2008 as an Army Military Police officer. In 2015, while concurrently serving in Congress, she achieved the rank of major in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Her service continued with a transfer to the U.S. Army Reserve in 2020, culminating in a promotion to lieutenant colonel in 2021.
Her election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 marked a significant moment, as she became the first Samoan American and Hindu American to serve in Congress. During her time in the House, Gabbard was a member of the House Armed Services Committee, where she championed legislation benefiting veterans, and also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Her foreign policy stance included support for efforts to combat Islamic extremism while opposing U.S. intervention in the Syrian civil war. In her fourth term, she gained insight into military intelligence and counterterrorism through her work on the HASC Subcommittee on Intelligence.
Gabbard pursued the presidency in 2020 with a campaign emphasizing anti-interventionism and populist themes, but she later withdrew and offered her endorsement to Joe Biden in March of that year. Her involvement in the Democratic Party also included a period as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016, a role she relinquished to support Bernie Sanders' presidential bid in 2016. Following her congressional departure in 2021, Gabbard adopted more conservative viewpoints on issues such as transgender rights, border security, and international relations. This evolution was further highlighted by her appearance at the conservative CPAC conference in 2022, the same year she formally left the Democratic Party. In 2024
Her election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 marked a significant moment, as she became the first Samoan American and Hindu American to serve in Congress. During her time in the House, Gabbard was a member of the House Armed Services Committee, where she championed legislation benefiting veterans, and also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Her foreign policy stance included support for efforts to combat Islamic extremism while opposing U.S. intervention in the Syrian civil war. In her fourth term, she gained insight into military intelligence and counterterrorism through her work on the HASC Subcommittee on Intelligence.
Gabbard pursued the presidency in 2020 with a campaign emphasizing anti-interventionism and populist themes, but she later withdrew and offered her endorsement to Joe Biden in March of that year. Her involvement in the Democratic Party also included a period as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016, a role she relinquished to support Bernie Sanders' presidential bid in 2016. Following her congressional departure in 2021, Gabbard adopted more conservative viewpoints on issues such as transgender rights, border security, and international relations. This evolution was further highlighted by her appearance at the conservative CPAC conference in 2022, the same year she formally left the Democratic Party. In 2024
