Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, born April 12, 1981, is an American politician, veteran, and commentator. She gained national prominence as the first Hindu member of Congress, representing Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021.

Gabbard’s early life was deeply influenced by her Hindu faith and upbringing. Born in American Samoa, she moved to Hawaii at a young age. Public service became a part of her life early; she was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature at the age of 21, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to a state legislature in the United States. Prior to her Congressional career, Gabbard also served in the Hawaii Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005 and Kuwait in 2008-2009. Her military service significantly shaped her views on foreign policy.

During her time in Congress, Gabbard served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She championed veterans’ issues, pushed for criminal justice reform, and advocated for renewable energy initiatives. However, she also became known for her non-interventionist foreign policy stance, often dissenting from the mainstream foreign policy consensus within both the Democratic and Republican parties. This was particularly evident in her criticism of U.S. involvement in regime change wars and her advocacy for diplomatic solutions to international conflicts. One notable instance was her controversial meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, which drew criticism from many quarters but she defended as necessary for exploring potential paths towards peace.

Gabbard launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020. Her campaign focused on ending wasteful foreign interventions, addressing climate change, and improving healthcare access. While she did not gain significant traction in the primaries, her presence in the debates brought her unique perspectives on foreign policy and the role of the United States in the world to a national audience. She eventually suspended her campaign and endorsed Joe Biden.

Since leaving Congress, Gabbard has become more vocal as a political commentator and podcast host. She has often criticized the Democratic Party, accusing it of moving too far to the left and abandoning traditional values. Her views on social and cultural issues have often placed her outside the mainstream of the Democratic Party, leading some to label her as a conservative or populist. She officially left the Democratic Party in 2022, citing its “cowardly wokeness.” Her subsequent political affiliations remain a subject of speculation, as she has aligned herself with figures and viewpoints across the political spectrum.

Tulsi Gabbard remains a controversial and complex figure in American politics. Her career has been marked by both accomplishments and controversies, and her future political endeavors are likely to continue to generate debate and discussion.