Tulsi Gabbard Wiki: Tulsi Gabbard, born in Leloaloa, American Samoa on April 12, 1981, is an American politician, military officer, and nominee for the Director of National Intelligence role. From 2013 to 2021, she represented Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump selected Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence for his second term, making her the initial American Samoan and Hindu to join the US Congress.
Tulsi Gabbard Wiki: Early Life and Education
Tulsi Gabbard, born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa, is the daughter of Carol (née Porter) and Mike Gabbard. The Gabbard family moved to Hawaii in 1983. During her teenage years, Gabbard adopted Hinduism, in contrast to her father, who practices Roman Catholicism. Both of her parents worked as educators, with her father eventually serving as a state legislator.
Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat, became the youngest individual to be elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2002, at the age of 21.
Military Career
In 2003, Tulsi Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard after the US entered Iraq. She was deployed to Iraq in 2004 with a medical unit and earned a Combat Medical Badge upon her 2005 return. Gabbard completed the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy in 2007. She then spent 2008 to 2009 training counterterrorism forces in Kuwait.
In 2020, she switched to the U.S. Army Reserve from the National Guard. While serving in the military, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Hawaii Pacific University in 2009. By 2021, Tulsi Gabbard had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
U.S. House of Representatives (2013-2021)
Tulsi Gabbard won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, where she represented Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district until 2021.
Key Initiatives and Legislation
- Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino Veterans: Tulsi Gabbard partnered with Senator Hirono to introduce a bill honoring Filipino and Filipino American veterans of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal, which was approved by President Obama in December 2016.
- Talia’s Law: Introduced by Tulsi Gabbard in November 2015, Talia’s Law was designed to combat child abuse and neglect on military bases. It was approved by Congress in February 2016 and signed into law by President Obama in December of the same year.
- Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act: In 2017, Gabbard introduced the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act, which sought to transition the U.S. to 100% clean energy by 2035.
- Securing America’s Election Act: In 2018, Tulsi Gabbard proposed the Securing America’s Election Act, which mandates the use of paper ballots in all districts to establish a traceable paper record for recount purposes.
- No More Presidential Wars Act: Representative Walter Jones and Tulsi Gabbard collaborated on the No More Presidential Wars Act to restore Congress’s authority to declare war and terminate unauthorized presidential military actions.
Committee Assignments
While in office, Tulsi Gabbard was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.
2020 Presidential Campaign
In January 2019, Tulsi Gabbard declared her bid for the 2020 Presidential election. On October 25, 2019, she stated that she would not run for Congress again. Her presidential campaign concluded on March 19, 2020, with an endorsement of Joe Biden.
Voting Record and Attendance
During her presidential campaign, Tulsi Gabbard faced scrutiny over her attendance record in Congress, particularly due to a rise in absences towards the end of 2019. She voted “present” on both articles of impeachment during the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
Political Positions and Views
Foreign Policy: Emphasizing the interconnection between foreign and domestic policies, Tulsi Gabbard highlighted her stance on international affairs. She condemned the “neoliberal/neoconservative war machine” and proposed reallocating military budgets to address domestic needs. Gabbard positioned herself as both a supporter and a critic of military actions, endorsing the fight against terrorism while denouncing ineffective regime change wars.
Domestic Policy: During her presidential campaign, Gabbard’s stances aligned with those of other candidates regarding healthcare, climate change, education, infrastructure, and reforming the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice Reform: Tulsi Gabbard has strongly criticized the “broken criminal justice system” and advocates for the termination of the war on drugs, the legalization of marijuana, the abolition of cash bail, and the prohibition of private prisons.
Healthcare: Gabbard endorsed a nationwide health insurance initiative and has promoted a universal healthcare proposal named “Single Payer Plus”, featuring a two-tier system.
Environment: Gabbard is in favor of the Paris Agreement and has proposed a bill mandating that all American electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2035.
Shift in Political Affiliation
Post-Congressional Career: Upon departing the U.S. House in 2021, Gabbard shifted towards more conservative positions on social matters. She has voiced disapproval towards the Democratic Party and the Biden administration.
Leaving the Democratic Party: In October 2022, Gabbard revealed that she was leaving the Democratic Party due to her worries about the party’s possible involvement in triggering a nuclear conflict.
Joining the Republican Party: In 2024, Gabbard officially joined the Republican Party.
Potential Role in the Trump Administration
During his second administration in November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump selected Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
Net Worth
Tulsi Gabbard’s net worth estimates in 2025 range from $1 million to $127 million, showing a significant increase in income after her Congressional tenure, mainly from media features, public speaking engagements, and investments.
Also Read: Sarah McBride Wiki
Tulsi Gabbard: Personal Life
Tulsi Gabbard holds the distinction of being the initial American Samoan and Hindu representative in the United States Congress. Additionally, she stands as one of the pioneering female combat veterans to have a seat in Congress.
Tulsi Gabbard Ethnicity
Tulsi Gabbard hails from American Samoa and was brought up in Hawaii. Her background includes Asian, Polynesian, and Caucasian heritage. Her father’s lineage traces back to Samoa and Europe, while her mother, originally from Indiana, was raised in Michigan.
Despite following Hinduism, Gabbard is sometimes misidentified as Indian, a misconception she has dispelled by confirming her lack of Indian ancestry. Raised in the Hindu faith, Tulsi’s mother embraced the religion, influencing Gabbard’s upbringing in that belief system.
Husband
Abraham Williams, a filmmaker, is married to Tulsi Gabbard. They tied the knot in Hawaii in 2015 through a traditional Vedic ceremony.
Kids
Tulsi Gabbard and her husband, Abraham Williams, chose to stop IVF treatments after facing emotional challenges throughout the process, resulting in them not having children. Gabbard expressed the difficulty they experienced witnessing disappointment on multiple occasions.
