Career Timeline of Tulsi Gabbard: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Tulsi Gabbard built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer, currently serving as the Director of National Intelligence since 2025. A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2021, she formerly represented Hawaii's 2nd congressional district (2013-2021). Gabbard's political affiliations have shifted over time, beginning as a Democrat, becoming an Independent in 2022, and later joining the Republican Party in 2024. She was also the youngest state legislator in Hawaii from 2002 to 2004.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

2002: Ran for Hawaii State Legislature

In 2002, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of Leeward Community College to run for the Hawaii State Legislature, becoming the youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative.

2002: Won Election for Hawaii House of Representatives

In 2002, Tulsi Gabbard won the election for the 42nd district of the Hawaii House of Representatives, becoming the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii's history.

April 2003: Enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard

In April 2003, while serving in the Hawaii State Legislature, Tulsi Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard.

2003: Joined Hawaii Army National Guard

In 2003, Tulsi Gabbard joined the Hawaii Army National Guard.

July 2004: Deployed to Iraq

In July 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was deployed for a 12-month tour in Iraq, serving as a specialist with the Medical Company, 29th Support Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii Army National Guard.

August 2004: Announced she would not campaign for reelection

In August 2004, Tulsi Gabbard announced that she would not campaign for a second term in the Hawaii House of Representatives due to her Army National Guard service in Iraq.

2004: Deployed to Iraq

In 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was deployed to Iraq, where she served as a specialist with a medical unit.

2005: Service in Iraq

From 2004 to 2005, Tulsi Gabbard served in Iraq as a specialist with a medical unit and received the Combat Medical Badge.

2005: Completed Tour in Iraq

In 2005, Tulsi Gabbard completed her tour in Iraq at Logistical Support Area Anaconda.

2005: Received Combat Medical Badge

In 2005, Tulsi Gabbard received a Combat Medical Badge for participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

March 2007: Graduated from Accelerated Officer Candidate School

In March 2007, Tulsi Gabbard graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy at the top of her class.

2007: Completed Officer Training Program

In 2007, Tulsi Gabbard completed the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy.

2008: Stationed in Kuwait

From 2008 to 2009, Tulsi Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.

2009: Stationed in Kuwait

From 2008 to 2009, Tulsi Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.

2009: Graduated from Hawaii Pacific University

In 2009, Tulsi Gabbard graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in international business.

2009: Ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council

In 2009, after returning from her second deployment to the Middle East, Tulsi Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council vacated by City Councilman Rod Tam.

September 2010: Finished first in Honolulu City Council Primary

In September 2010, Tulsi Gabbard finished first in the 10-candidate nonpartisan open primary for a seat on the Honolulu City Council.

May 2011: Declared candidacy for U.S. House seat

In May 2011, Tulsi Gabbard declared her candidacy for the open U.S. House seat for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.

August 16, 2012: Resigned from Honolulu City Council

On August 16, 2012, Tulsi Gabbard resigned from the Honolulu City Council to focus on her congressional campaign.

December 2012: Applied for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat

In December 2012, Tulsi Gabbard applied for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Daniel Inouye, but was not among the candidates forwarded to the governor.

2012: Spoke at Democratic National Convention and Elected to Congress

In 2012, Tulsi Gabbard spoke at the Democratic National Convention and was subsequently elected to Congress, becoming the first voting Samoan American and the first Hindu member of Congress.

2012: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2012, Tulsi Gabbard was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, succeeding Mazie Hirono. She became the first Samoan American and Hindu American member of U.S. Congress.

January 22, 2013: Election as vice chair of the DNC

On January 22, 2013, Tulsi Gabbard was unanimously elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

March 2013: Introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act

In March 2013, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act to expedite airport security screening for severely wounded veterans.

2013: Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee

From 2013, Tulsi Gabbard served as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

2013: Criticism of President Obama on Islamic extremism

In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard began appearing on Fox News and criticized President Obama for his refusal to refer to ISIS beliefs and terrorism as "Islamic extremism" or "radical Islam".

2014: Reelected to Congress

In 2014, Tulsi Gabbard was reelected to Congress, defeating Kawika Crowley again.

September 2015: Criticism of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

In September 2015, Tulsi Gabbard criticized DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz's decision to limit the number of debates in the 2016 Democratic primary.

October 12, 2015: Promoted to Major

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.

October 2015: Reported request not to attend debate

In October 2015, following her criticism of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Tulsi Gabbard was reportedly asked not to attend the October 2015 debate in Las Vegas.

November 2015: Introduced Talia's Law

In November 2015, Tulsi Gabbard introduced Talia's Law, aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect on military bases.

2015: Criticism of Obama administration on Islamic extremism

In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard criticized the Obama administration for "refusing" to acknowledge Islamic extremists as the "real enemy" of the United States.

2015: Meeting with Egyptian dictator 'Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi

In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard met with Egyptian dictator 'Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo and commended him for his "great courage and leadership" in his regime's war against "Islamist ideology", which drew widespread criticism.

2015: Became a Major

In 2015, while serving in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard became a major with the Hawaii Army National Guard.

February 2016: Congress Passed Talia's Law

In February 2016, Congress passed Talia's Law, which Tulsi Gabbard introduced.

February 28, 2016: Resignation as DNC vice chair to endorse Bernie Sanders

On February 28, 2016, Tulsi Gabbard resigned as DNC vice chair to endorse Bernie Sanders for president.

December 2016: Talia's Law Signed Into Law

In December 2016, Talia's Law, introduced by Tulsi Gabbard, was signed into law.

December 2016: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act Signed into Law

In December 2016, the bill co-sponsored by Tulsi Gabbard with 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.

2016: Views on Islamist militancy and US military intervention

In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard expressed a strong stance against Islamist militancy, supporting tough actions against Al Qaeda and ISIS. She described herself as a hawk on terrorism but a dove on counterproductive regime change wars, advocating for reduced US military interventionism.

2016: Resigned from DNC to endorse Bernie Sanders

In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard resigned from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to endorse Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

2016: Re-elected to Congress

In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard was re-elected to Congress with 81.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Angela Kaaihue.

January 2017: Fact-finding mission to Syria and Lebanon

In January 2017, Tulsi Gabbard went on a one-week "fact-finding mission" to Syria and Lebanon, meeting with political and religious leaders and Bashar al-Assad.

April 2017: Response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack

In April 2017, following the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack, Tulsi Gabbard expressed skepticism about Assad's responsibility without an independent investigation, drawing parallels to the Iraq War and warning against repeating a "counterproductive regime war" without clear evidence.

2017: Views on Syrian rebels and terrorist groups

After a 2017 visit to Syria, Tulsi Gabbard expressed her view that there is no difference between "moderate" rebels and al-Qaeda or ISIS, stating they are all the same.

2017: Opposition to Islamist political movements

By 2017, Tulsi Gabbard took strong stances in opposition to Islamist political movements and organizations in the Middle East during her time in U.S. Congress.

2017: Response to Chemical Warfare Allegations

In 2017, Gabbard said her initial skepticism was specifically around incidents, which were used as an excuse to launch a U.S. military attack in Syria.

2017: Introduction of the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act

In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Off Fossil Fuels (OFF) Act, with the goal of transitioning the United States to 100% clean energy by 2035.

2017: Introduction of Stop Arming Terrorists Act

In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act.

September 2018: Co-sponsorship of the No More Presidential Wars Act

In September 2018, Tulsi Gabbard and Republican Representative Walter Jones co-sponsored the No More Presidential Wars Act to reaffirm Congress's authority over war declarations.

2018: Characterization of U.S. actions in Syria

In 2018, Tulsi Gabbard characterized the U.S. as waging a regime change war in Syria since 2011.

2018: Introduction of the Securing America's Election Act

In 2018, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Securing America's Election Act. The bill required all voting districts to use paper ballots to ensure an auditable paper trail, and was endorsed by the nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause.

February 2019: Official launch of 2020 presidential campaign

In February 2019, Tulsi Gabbard officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign, becoming the first female combat veteran to run for president.

February 2019: Reports on Gabbard's Skepticism

In February 2019, media outlets reported that Gabbard had called for evidence to be presented to Congress regarding her skepticism of the Assad regime's involvement in the gas attack.

February 2019: Statements on Assad and U.S. foreign policy

In a February 2019 interview with MSNBC, Tulsi Gabbard stated that "Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States." In a subsequent CNN interview, she acknowledged Assad as a brutal dictator, but argued against U.S. regime-change wars.

March 10, 2019: Clarification on skepticism regarding Assad's use of chemical warfare

On March 10, 2019, Tulsi Gabbard clarified that she believed chemical weapons had been used in Syria by both the Syrian government and terrorist groups, and that her initial skepticism was about specific incidents in 2017 used to justify a U.S. military attack in Syria.

July 2019: Visit to Puerto Rico and protests

In July 2019, Tulsi Gabbard was the only 2020 presidential candidate to visit Puerto Rico and join protests urging Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign.

August 2019: Comparison of Assad to other dictators

In August 2019, Tulsi Gabbard described Assad as "a brutal dictator, just like Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi," emphasizing her opposition to wasteful regime-change wars due to their high human cost.

August 2019: Publication of "Reports on Chemical Attacks in Syria"

In August 2019, the Tulsi 2020 presidential campaign published "Reports on Chemical Attacks in Syria", a compilation of analyses and reports on chemical attacks. The document expressed skepticism about the Khan Shaykhun and Douma attacks and concerns about reliance on unverified sources for military actions.

September 2019: Media coverage summary by Vanity Fair

In September 2019, Vanity Fair summarized media coverage of Tulsi Gabbard's presidential campaign as "the press hates Gabbard even more than it hates Sanders".

October 2019: Hillary Clinton's suggestion that Gabbard was a "Russian asset"

In October 2019, Hillary Clinton suggested that Tulsi Gabbard was a "Russian asset", leading to defense from other 2020 Democratic presidential candidates and then-President Trump. This led to initial news stories that mistakenly reported Clinton claimed Russia was "grooming" Gabbard to run as a third-party candidate, who would help president Donald Trump win reelection via a spoiler effect.

October 2019: James Carden's article about McCarthyism

In October 2019, The Nation's James Carden wrote that "McCarthyism had gone mainstream" as media attacked Gabbard.

October 2019: Qualification for the fourth presidential debate in Ohio

In October 2019, Tulsi Gabbard qualified for the fourth presidential debate in Ohio.

October 25, 2019: Announcement not to seek reelection in 2020

On October 25, 2019, Tulsi Gabbard announced that she would not seek reelection in 2020 to focus on her presidential campaign.

December 2019: Saturday Night Live parodies of Gabbard

After the December 2019 debates, Saturday Night Live's parodies of the debates showed Gabbard as the villain.

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December 2019: Voting "present" on articles of impeachment

In December 2019, Tulsi Gabbard cast a "present" vote on both articles of impeachment in the first impeachment of Donald Trump, amidst a period where she missed 85% of votes in Congress.

December 20, 2019: Stop Arming Terrorists Act becomes law

On December 20, 2019, the Stop Arming Terrorists Act that Tulsi Gabbard introduced in 2017 became law, prohibiting the Department of Defense from knowingly providing support to Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups.

2019: Views on Putin as a U.S. adversary

In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard affirmed on MSNBC's Morning Joe that she views Putin as a U.S. adversary.

January 2020: Filing of a legal defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton

In January 2020, Tulsi Gabbard filed a legal defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton over the 'Russian asset' assertion as indicated in the complaint; but dropped it five months later

March 3, 2020: Earning delegates in American Samoa

On March 3, 2020, Tulsi Gabbard earned two delegates in American Samoa, making her the second woman of color and the first Asian-American and Pacific-Islander presidential candidate to earn primary delegates.

March 2020: Dropped out of presidential campaign and endorsed Joe Biden

In March 2020, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of her 2020 presidential campaign and endorsed Joe Biden.

March 2020: Resumption of regular attendance

In March 2020, after suspending her presidential campaign, Tulsi Gabbard resumed regular attendance in Congress.

March 19, 2020: Dropping out of the 2020 election and endorsing Joe Biden

On March 19, 2020, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of the 2020 election and endorsed former vice president Joe Biden.

June 2020: Transferred to 351st Civil Affairs Command

In June 2020, Tulsi Gabbard transferred to the 351st Civil Affairs Command, a California-based United States Army Reserve unit assigned to the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command.

July 2020: Meeting with the family of Vanessa Guillén

In July 2020, Tulsi Gabbard met with the family of Vanessa Guillén, a U.S. Army soldier who was found murdered. Gabbard called for reforms to address military sexual harassment, stating she stood "for Vanessa" and "for her family".

August 2020: Advocating for Jennifer Smith

In August 2020, Tulsi Gabbard advocated for Jennifer Smith, a Hawaii Department of Health epidemiologist who reported issues with the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program.

September 2020: Conversion of presidential campaign committee and criticism of Netflix's 'Cuties'

In September 2020, Tulsi Gabbard converted her presidential campaign committee, Tulsi Now, into Tulsi Aloha, a leadership PAC. That same month, she criticized Netflix over the film Cuties, arguing that it contributed to the exploitation of children.

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October 2020: Introduction of bills regarding Edward Snowden and Julian Assange

In October 2020, Tulsi 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.

2020: Transferred to U.S. Army Reserve

In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.

2020: Criticism of Baghdad International Airport airstrike

In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard was critical of the U.S. military's Baghdad International Airport airstrike, which killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, calling it an act of war without congressional authorization.

2020: Tulsi 2020 campaign publishes report on chemical attacks in Syria

In 2020, the Tulsi 2020 presidential campaign published "Reports on Chemical Attacks in Syria", compiling analyses suggesting that both sides used chemical weapons, while expressing skepticism about the Khan Shaykhun and Douma attacks, but Gabbard "remained skeptical" of the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack, and the Douma chemical attack.

January 2021: Launching of podcast and appearances on Fox News

In January 2021, Tulsi Gabbard launched her own podcast, called This is Tulsi Gabbard. She also made several appearances on Fox News programs where she criticized figures such as House speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. representative Adam Schiff.

July 4, 2021: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

On July 4, 2021, Tulsi Gabbard was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, while she was deployed to the Horn of Africa working as a civil affairs officer in support of a special operations mission.

2021: Departure from Congress

After her departure from Congress in 2021, Gabbard took more conservative positions on issues such as transgender rights, border security, and foreign policy.

2021: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

In 2021, Tulsi Gabbard was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

February 11, 2022: Suggestion to prevent war with Russia

On February 11, 2022, during the build-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tulsi Gabbard suggested President Biden could prevent war by guaranteeing Ukraine would not join NATO, blaming "warmongers" and suggesting the U.S. might want Russia to invade.

April 4, 2022: Tweet regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine

On April 4, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard tweeted a message to President Putin condemning the attack on Ukraine and stating it had been a "huge geopolitical error" for Russia.

August 2022: Fill-in Host for Tucker Carlson Tonight

In August 2022, Tulsi Gabbard began serving as a fill-in host for Tucker Carlson Tonight.

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November 2022: Deal with Fox News as Paid Contributor

In November 2022, Tulsi Gabbard signed a deal with Fox News as a paid contributor, becoming a frequent guest and occasional host on shows such as The Five, Outnumbered, Hannity, Jesse Watters Primetime, and Gutfeld!.

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2022: Endorsement of Florida Parental Rights in Education Act

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which restricts discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida public schools. She stated that the bill prevents the indoctrination of "woke sexual values" in schools and suggested it should apply to all grades.

2022: Spoke at CPAC and left the Democratic Party

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard spoke at the conservative CPAC conference and left the Democratic Party.

October 7, 2023: Response to Hamas' attack on Israel

On October 7, 2023, following Hamas' attack on Israel, Tulsi Gabbard strongly supported Israel and condemned Hamas, labeling it an Islamist terrorist organization.

November 2023: Attendance at the March for Israel

In November 2023, Tulsi Gabbard attended the March for Israel at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., showing her support for Israel.

2023: Tucker Carlson Tonight cancellation

In 2023, Tucker Carlson Tonight was cancelled and Tulsi Gabbard stopped being a frequent guest host of the show.

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February 22, 2024: Featured speaker at CPAC

On February 22, 2024, Tulsi Gabbard was a featured speaker at CPAC, raising speculation of her candidacy as a potential vice-presidential selection.

March 2024: Trump cites Gabbard as potential running mate

In March 2024, Donald Trump cited Tulsi Gabbard as one of his potential choices for his running mate.

August 26, 2024: Endorsement of Trump's re-election bid

On August 26, 2024, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump's re-election bid during a National Guard Association gathering in Michigan and was named as an honorary co-chair of his presidential transition team.

October 22, 2024: Joining the Republican Party

On October 22, 2024, while speaking at a Trump rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Tulsi Gabbard announced she was joining the Republican Party.

November 13, 2024: Nominated as Director of National Intelligence

On November 13, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence (DNI), citing her military experience and leadership.

November 2024: Reports on Gabbard's Skepticism

In November 2024, media outlets reported that Gabbard had called for evidence to be presented to Congress regarding her skepticism of the Assad regime's involvement in the gas attack.

2024: Endorsed Donald Trump and joined Republican Party

In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election and later that year joined the Republican Party.

January 27, 2025: Support from Former Officials

On January 27, 2025, former intelligence and national security officials expressed support for Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as DNI, asserting she would help depoliticize intelligence agencies.

January 30, 2025: Testimony Before Senate Committee

On January 30, 2025, Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, pledging to separate her political views from her official duties and addressing accusations of divided loyalties.

February 4, 2025: Nomination Advanced by Senate Intelligence Committee

On February 4, 2025, the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced Tulsi Gabbard's nomination in a 9–8 party-line vote.

February 10, 2025: Senator Murkowski Announces Support

On February 10, 2025, Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her support for Tulsi Gabbard's nomination, citing her commitment to oversight and civil liberties.

February 12, 2025: Sworn in as Director of National Intelligence

On February 12, 2025, Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as the 8th director of national intelligence, becoming the first female military combat veteran, first Pacific Islander American, and first Hindu American to hold a Cabinet-level position.

February 2025: Confirmed as Director of National Intelligence

In February 2025, Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by the Senate as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

March 2025: International Trips as DNI

In March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard made her second international trip as DNI to Asia with a focus on the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, Thailand, and India. Prior to this, she stopped in Hawaii, which hosts the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command headquarters. During her visit to India, Gabbard attended the Raisina Dialogue.

March 2025: Testimony on Iran's nuclear program

In March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress stating that the US intelligence community assessed that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, but she raised concerns about Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

May 2025: Reorientation of U.S. Intelligence Announced

In May 2025, Tulsi Gabbard announced the reorientation of U.S. intelligence towards border security, counterterrorism, and counternarcotics, at the GEOINT 2025 Symposium.

June 2025: Clarification on Iran's nuclear weapon stance

In June 2025, Tulsi Gabbard clarified her position on Iran's nuclear weapons, agreeing with President Trump that Iran could build a nuclear weapon in weeks. She blamed the media for misrepresenting her March testimony.

June 2025: Support for Trump administration's claim of damage to Iran's nuclear sites

In June 2025, Tulsi Gabbard supported the Trump administration’s claim of significant damage to Iran's nuclear sites from US strikes, contradicting media reports of limited damage. She stated that Iran's nuclear facilities would likely take years to rebuild if they chose to do so.