US President Donald Trump appointed Tulsi Gabbard as the head of National Intelligence soon after being re-elected in November 2024. Just days after securing the Senate’s vote to oversee America’s 17 intelligence agencies, Gabbard called upon visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi landed in America on February 13, upon Trump’s invitation.
Taking to X, PM Modi shared a glimpse of his meeting with the US intelligence czar and wrote, “Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary.”
Have a look at his tweet here:
Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary. pic.twitter.com/w2bhsh8CKF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2025
Who Is Tulsi Gabbard?
Tulsi Gababrd meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.
Tulsi Gabbard, born on April 12, 1981, in American Samoa, is the fourth of five children of Mike and Carol Gabbard. Her family moved to Hawaii when she was 2 years old. Named after the sacred Hindu plant Tulasi, she reportedly grew up in a multicultural home with both European and Samoan roots.
Gabbard’s mother is from Indiana, and her father, of Samoan and European descent, was born in American Samoa. Raised in Hawaii, Gabbard was involved in surfing, martial arts, and yoga, and was mostly homeschooled, with two years spent at a girls’ school in the Philippines. She embraced the Hindu faith and learned spiritual principles from the Bhagavad Gita.
Because of her name, Gabbard was misconstrued by people as an Indian. In 2012, she clarified that she has no Indian roots.
As the first Hindu member of the US House of Representatives, she took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita. As per reports, Gabbard felt really inspired by the holy book and was inspired by its teachings of selfless duty and devotion.
In 2019, she gifted the same copy to PM Modi in New York.
What Is Gabbard’s Connection With India & Hinduism?
Gabbard at the US Akshardham temple.
Gabbard consciously embraced Hinduism, aligning herself with the Vaishnav tradition, which emphasizes devotion to Krishna. She integrated Hindu values into her public as well as political life.
Gabbard has a strong connection with ISKCON and keeps visiting temples in Honolulu and New Delhi. She also served as the keynote speaker at their 50th Anniversary Gala in 2016.
Raised in Hawaii with five siblings, Gabbard’s upbringing was influenced by both her father, a Catholic-turned-Hindu, and the principles of the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a Vaishnava group linked to ISKCON. Her sister Vrindavan, a deputy US marshal, has always been a close companion, with Gabbard publicly praising her on social media.
The Gabbard family’s deep Hindu connection is reflected in the names of her siblings. Her brothers—Bhakti, Aryan, and Jay—carry names that embody spiritual devotion, strength, and victory, further shaping their identities within the faith.
In 2015, Gabbard married cinematographer Abraham Williams in a Hindu ceremony in Hawaii, where BJP leader Ram Madhav attended and brought a special message and gift from Prime Minister Modi.
Her views on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan gained significant attention within the Hindu-American community.
Her Controversial Political Career
Gabbard, a former Democratic Congress-woman who left the party in 2022, has been outspoken in her criticism of the Biden administration, especially their support for Ukraine and Pro-Palestinian protests in the US, which she labeled as “puppets” of a “radical Islamist organization.”
Her past remarks, including those defending Bashar al-Assad and praising Edward Snowden, drew controversy, with critics questioning her stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gabbard is an Iraq war veteran and has been the lieutenant colonel in the National Guard. She also served three deployments in Africa and the Middle East war zones. In 2020, she was a presidential candidate for the Republican Party.
She is also a New York Times’ bestselling author.
