How Tulsi Gabbard built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer. She served as the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. Currently, she holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and serves as the 8th director of national intelligence since 2025. Gabbard was formerly a Democrat, and in 2024 joined the Republican Party. Prior to her congressional service, she was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii from 2002 to 2004.
From 2002 to 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii.
In 2002, Gabbard dropped out of Leeward Community College to run successfully for election to the Hawaii state legislature, becoming the youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative.
In 2002, Gabbard won the general election with 60.7% of the vote, defeating Republican Alfonso Jimenez. At the age of 21, Gabbard became the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii's history.
In April 2003, while serving in the Hawaii State Legislature, Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
In July 2004, Gabbard was deployed for a 12-month tour in Iraq, serving as a specialist.
In August 2004, Gabbard announced that she would not campaign for a second term due to her Army National Guard service in Iraq.
From 2002 to 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii.
From 2004 to 2005, Gabbard was deployed to Iraq where she served as a specialist with the medical unit, and received the Combat Medical Badge.
From 2004 to 2005, Gabbard was deployed to Iraq where she served as a specialist with the medical unit, and received the Combat Medical Badge.
From 2004 to 2005, Tulsi Gabbard was deployed to Iraq, serving with the National Guard.
In March 2007, Gabbard graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy at the top of her class.
In 2007, Gabbard completed the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy.
From 2008 to 2009, Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.
After returning home from her second deployment to the Middle East in 2009, Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council.
From 2008 to 2009, Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.
In the 10-candidate nonpartisan open primary in September 2010, Gabbard finished first with 26.8% of the vote for a seat on the Honolulu City Council.
In May 2011, Gabbard declared her candidacy for the open House seat for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.
On August 16, 2012, Gabbard resigned from the Honolulu City Council to focus on her congressional campaign.
In December 2012, Gabbard applied for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Daniel Inouye.
In 2012, Gabbard was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. She became the first Samoan American and Hindu American to serve in the U.S. Congress.
In 2012, as the Democratic nominee, Gabbard spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. In the general election, she was elected to Congress, becoming the first voting Samoan American and first Hindu member of Congress.
On January 22, 2013, Tulsi Gabbard was unanimously elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
In March 2013, Gabbard introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act to expedite airport security screening for severely wounded veterans.
On November 25, 2013, Tulsi Gabbard received the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award at a ceremony at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government for her efforts on behalf of veterans.
Between 2013 and 2021, Tulsi Gabbard expressed support for an easier path to citizenship for immigrants without legal status, increasing skilled immigration, and granting work visas to immigrants.
From 2013 to 2016, she served as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) but resigned to endorse Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
From 2013 to 2021, Tulsi Gabbard served as U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.
In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard took the oath of office using her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita, highlighting her Hindu faith.
On March 20, 2014, Elle magazine honored Tulsi Gabbard at the Italian Embassy in the United States during its annual "Women in Washington Power List".
In 2014, Gabbard was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Kawika Crowley again.
In 2014, as a Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the United States.
On February 26, 2015, Tulsi Gabbard received the National Association of Counties County Alumni Award for her "steadfast commitment to the nation's counties".
On July 15, 2015, Tulsi Gabbard received the Friend of the National Parks Award from the National Parks Conservation Association.
In September 2015, Tulsi Gabbard criticized DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz's decision to limit the number of debates in the 2016 Democratic primary.
On October 12, 2015, Tulsi Gabbard was promoted from the rank of captain to major at a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Following her criticism, Tulsi Gabbard was reportedly asked not to attend the October 2015 debate in Las Vegas.
In November 2015, Gabbard introduced Talia's Law, aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect on military bases.
In 2015, while also serving in Congress, Gabbard became a major with the Hawaii Army National Guard.
In February 2016, Congress passed Talia's Law, aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect on military bases.
On February 28, 2016, Tulsi Gabbard resigned as DNC vice chair to endorse Bernie Sanders, later appearing on Meet the Press to discuss her resignation.
In December 2016, Talia's Law, aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect on military bases, was signed into law.
In December 2016, a bill co-sponsored by Gabbard and Senator Hirono to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino and Filipino American veterans of World War II was signed into law by President Obama.
During the 2016 election, Tulsi Gabbard was listed as Bernie Sanders's running mate for write-in votes in California.
From 2013 to 2016, she served as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) but resigned to endorse Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
In 2016, Gabbard criticized DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz's decision to limit the number of debates in the 2016 Democratic primary.
In 2016, Gabbard was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Republican Angela Kaaihue.
In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard co-signed a letter supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline construction, urging the Obama administration to address tribal concerns.
In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard supported the campaign by Hindu Americans for a Diwali commemorative stamp in the United States, emphasizing the values of righteousness associated with the festival.
In October 2019, Hillary Clinton suggested that Tulsi Gabbard was a "Russian asset," leading to widespread defense of Gabbard and condemnation of Clinton's remarks. Gabbard responded by calling Clinton the "queen of warmongers."
In April 2017, Tulsi Gabbard stated she would denounce Assad as a war criminal if an independent investigation found him responsible for the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack, but expressed skepticism, wanting clear evidence presented to Congress, drawing parallels to the Iraq War. She supported UN efforts to collect evidence for a successful prosecution at the International Criminal Court.
In 2017, Gabbard clarified the details of her 2017 Syria trip with former Congressman Dennis Kucinich.
In 2017, Gabbard expressed skepticism about incidents in Syria that were used as an excuse to launch a U.S. military attack, emphasizing the need for clear evidence before taking military action.
In 2017, Gabbard visited Armenia and the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a U.S. lawmaker delegation, leading to her being blacklisted by Azerbaijan.
In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Keith Ellison for DNC chair.
In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act which became law December 20, 2019.
In 2017, she introduced the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act, which aimed for a transition to 100% clean energy by 2035.
In September 2018, Gabbard and Republican Representative Walter Jones co-sponsored the No More Presidential Wars Act to reaffirm Congress's authority over war declarations.
On September 30, 2018, Tulsi Gabbard received the Ho'ola Na Pua Advocacy Award for "her dedication to serving and empowering human trafficking survivors in Hawaii" at their annual Pearl Gala.
On October 16, 2018, Tulsi Gabbard was honored as Hawaii Pacific University's 2018 Paul T. C. Loo Distinguished Alumni.
In 2018, Tulsi Gabbard successfully passed an amendment to improve protective equipment for civil defense agencies near volcanic activity.
In 2018, she introduced the Securing America's Election Act, requiring all voting districts to use paper ballots to ensure an auditable paper trail.
In February 2019, Tulsi Gabbard officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign.
In February 2019, reports resurfaced about Tulsi Gabbard's skepticism regarding Assad's regime being behind a gas attack. These reports appeared during her presidential campaign and after her nomination for DNI.
On March 10, 2019, during a CNN Townhall, Tulsi Gabbard clarified her stance on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, stating that both the Syrian government and terrorist groups had used them. She explained that her skepticism in 2017 was regarding incidents used to justify a U.S. military attack.
In July 2019, Tulsi Gabbard was the only 2020 presidential candidate to visit Puerto Rico and join protests urging Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign.
In August 2019, Tulsi Gabbard's 2020 presidential campaign published a compilation of analyses on chemical attacks in Syria, noting evidence of chemical weapon use by both sides but expressing skepticism about the Khan Shaykhun and Douma attacks. The report raised concerns about reliance on social media and unverified sources for military actions.
In September 2019, media coverage of Tulsi Gabbard's presidential campaign was summarized as being heavily negative, with accusations of Russian ties and unfair dismissal.
Also in October 2019, James Carden of The Nation wrote that "McCarthyism had gone mainstream" due to media attacks against Gabbard.
In October 2019, Hillary Clinton suggested that Tulsi Gabbard was a "Russian asset," leading to widespread defense of Gabbard and condemnation of Clinton's remarks. Gabbard responded by calling Clinton the "queen of warmongers."
In October 2019, Tulsi Gabbard qualified for the fourth presidential debate in Ohio.
On October 25, 2019, Gabbard announced she would not seek reelection in 2020, citing her presidential campaign.
Between October and December 2019, Gabbard missed 85% of votes but cast a "present" vote on both articles of impeachment in the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
On December 20, 2019, the Stop Arming Terrorists Act that she introduced in 2017 became law as part of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, to prohibit the Department of Defense from knowingly providing weapons or support to Al Qaeda or affiliated terrorist groups.
In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard affirmed on MSNBC's Morning Joe that she views Putin as a U.S. adversary.
In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution legislation, aiming to lock in official US recognition and permanent remembrance of the Armenian genocide.
In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard successfully passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Energy to reexamine the safety of the leaking Runit Dome nuclear waste site in the Marshall Islands.
In January 2020, Tulsi Gabbard advocated for the legalization and regulation of all drugs, drawing inspiration from Portugal's decriminalization model.
In January 2020, Tulsi Gabbard filed a legal defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton over the 'Russian asset' assertion, but dropped it five months later.
On March 3, 2020, Tulsi Gabbard earned two delegates in American Samoa, becoming the second woman of color and first Asian-American and Pacific-Islander presidential candidate to earn primary delegates.
After suspending her presidential campaign in March 2020, Gabbard resumed regular attendance in Congress.
In March 2020, Gabbard dropped out of her 2020 presidential campaign and endorsed Joe Biden.
On March 19, 2020, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of the 2020 election and endorsed former vice president Joe Biden.
In June 2020, Tulsi Gabbard proposed an amendment to the House version of the 2021 NDAA to allow Armed Services members to use CBD and hemp products. It was approved 336 to 71 as a package, although House leaders did not fight for its inclusion in the final bill.
In June 2020, Tulsi Gabbard transferred to the 351st Civil Affairs Command, a California-based United States Army Reserve unit.
In July 2020, Gabbard met with the family of Vanessa Guillén, a U.S. Army soldier and victim of military sexual harassment, and called for reforms to address military sexual harassment.
In August 2020, Gabbard advocated for Jennifer Smith, a Hawaii Department of Health epidemiologist who reported issues with the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program.
In October 2020, Gabbard and Representative Matt Gaetz introduced a bill calling for the U.S. to drop criminal charges against Edward Snowden. She also introduced a similar bill with Representative Thomas Massie advocating for Julian Assange's release from prison in the United Kingdom.
In August 2020, Gabbard advocated for Jennifer Smith, a Hawaii Department of Health epidemiologist who reported issues with the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program. Gabbard continued to support her until she was reinstated in November 2020.
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Tulsi Gabbard advocated for a cooperative relationship with China to address global challenges and criticized Trump's trade war as volatile and potentially leading to conflict.
In 2020, Gabbard transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard accused Turkey of encouraging the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and urged the US to demand an end to Azerbaijan's attacks and Turkey's involvement.
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard was a presenter at iHeartRadio Honolulu's virtual festival, Island Music Awards 2020.
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard was the most frequently Googled candidate after the first, second, and fourth 2020 Democratic primary debates. During the second debate, Gabbard criticized Kamala Harris's record as attorney general of California.
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard's presidential campaign published "Reports on Chemical Attacks in Syria", a document that was criticized for factual errors.
In February 2019, Tulsi Gabbard officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign.
On December 20, 2019, the Stop Arming Terrorists Act that she introduced in 2017 became law as part of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, to prohibit the Department of Defense from knowingly providing weapons or support to Al Qaeda or affiliated terrorist groups.
Shortly after the 2016 election, Tulsi Gabbard was mentioned as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.
In January 2021, Tulsi Gabbard launched her own podcast, called This is Tulsi Gabbard. She also made several appearances on Fox News programs, criticizing figures such as Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff.
On July 4, 2021, Tulsi Gabbard was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, while she was deployed to the Horn of Africa.
After her departure from Congress in 2021, Gabbard took more conservative positions on issues such as abortion, foreign policy, LGBTQ rights, and border security.
Between 2013 and 2021, Tulsi Gabbard expressed support for an easier path to citizenship for immigrants without legal status, increasing skilled immigration, and granting work visas to immigrants.
In 2021, Gabbard was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 2021, Tulsi Gabbard held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In June 2020, Tulsi Gabbard proposed an amendment to the House version of the 2021 NDAA to allow Armed Services members to use CBD and hemp products. It was approved 336 to 71 as a package, although House leaders did not fight for its inclusion in the final bill.
On February 11, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard suggested that President Biden could prevent a war with Russia by guaranteeing that Ukraine would not become a member of NATO, criticizing 'warmongers' and suggesting the U.S. might want Russia to invade.
On March 9, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard expressed serious concern about the potential risk of unsecured biological agents in Ukrainian labs amidst the war with Russia, calling it a 'global crisis'.
On March 13, 2022, Mitt Romney tweeted that Tulsi Gabbard was parroting false Russian propaganda regarding a US-funded covert biological weapons program in Ukraine, calling her claims 'treasonous lies'.
On April 4, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard tweeted, criticizing President Putin's 'brutal attack on Ukraine' as a 'huge geopolitical error' and called for the withdrawal of Russian forces.
In August 2022, Tulsi Gabbard started serving as the fill-in host for Tucker Carlson Tonight.
On October 11, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard announced she was leaving the Democratic Party, criticizing its leadership.
In November 2022, Tulsi Gabbard signed a deal with Fox News as a paid contributor.
In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard left the Democratic Party.
In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard was a featured speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), marking her alignment with conservative platforms.
In December 2023, Tulsi Gabbard questioned the ongoing remilitarization of Japan, cautioning against shortsighted leadership potentially leading to conflict.
In August 2022, Gabbard started serving as the fill-in host for Tucker Carlson Tonight, and continued to be a frequent guest host of the show until its cancellation in 2023.
On February 22, 2024, Tulsi Gabbard was a featured speaker at CPAC, raising speculation of her candidacy as a potential vice-presidential selection.
In March 2024, Donald Trump cited Tulsi Gabbard as one of his potential choices for his running mate.
On August 26, 2024, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump's re-election bid.
On August 30, 2024, Dana Milbank wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that Tulsi Gabbard had endorsed Russian propaganda by falsely claiming the United States was funding biological laboratories in Ukraine that could spread dangerous pathogens.
On October 22, 2024, Tulsi Gabbard announced she was joining the Republican Party while speaking at a Trump rally in Greensboro, North Carolina.
On November 13, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence (DNI).
In November 2024, the BBC reported that Gabbard had called for evidence to be presented to Congress.
In 2024, Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election and joined the Republican Party later that year.
In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat, joined the Republican Party.
In 2024, the New York Times reported that while some lawmakers accused Gabbard of pro-Russia foreign policy stances that were praised by Russian media, there was no evidence of a connection between Gabbard and Russian agencies, although her calls for improved diplomatic ties made her a popular voice in Russian state media.
In 2024, the Trump transition team stated that Tulsi Gabbard has 'no affiliation' with the Science of Identity Foundation.
On January 27, 2025, former intelligence and national security officials expressed support for Tulsi Gabbard, asserting she would help depoliticize intelligence agencies.
On January 30, 2025, Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and pledged to separate her political views from her official duties.
On February 4, 2025, the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced Tulsi Gabbard's nomination in a 9-8 party-line vote.
On February 10, 2025, Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her support for Tulsi Gabbard, stating that she appreciated her commitment to oversight and ensuring civil liberties remain protected.
On February 11, 2025, during Senate consideration of Gabbard's nomination for DNI, Senator Jack Reed referenced Mitt Romney's previous accusation that she was parroting Russian propaganda regarding a covert biological weapons program in Ukraine.
On February 12, 2025, Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as the 8th Director of National Intelligence. She took responsibility for leading 18 U.S. intelligence agencies and became the president's top intelligence advisor.
In February 2025, Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by the Senate, becoming the highest-ranking Pacific Islander American government official in U.S. history.
In 2025, Tulsi Gabbard became the 8th Director of National Intelligence.
In 2017, she introduced the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act, which aimed for a transition to 100% clean energy by 2035.