Early Life and Education of Tulsi Gabbard: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Tulsi Gabbard. A timeline of key moments.
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.
1915: Ottoman Empire Attempted to Cleanse Armenian and Christian Populations
In 1915, the Ottoman Empire attempted to cleanse itself of the Armenian and Christian populations, with the US becoming home to many survivors.
April 12, 1981: Tulsi Gabbard Born
On April 12, 1981, Tulsi Gabbard was born. She is an American politician and military officer.
1983: Family Moved Back to Hawaii
In 1983, when Gabbard was two years old, her family moved back to Hawaii.
1988: Gabbard's parents owned The Natural Deli
From 1988 to 1992, Gabbard's parents owned The Natural Deli in Moiliili, Hawaii.
1992: Gabbard's parents stopped owning The Natural Deli
From 1988 to 1992, Gabbard's parents owned The Natural Deli in Moiliili, Hawaii.
1998: Support for Father's Campaign Against Gay Marriage
In 1998, at age 17, Tulsi Gabbard supported her father's campaign to amend the Constitution of Hawaii to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.
2002: Youngest State Legislator in Hawaii
From 2002 to 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii.
2002: Elected to Hawaii State Legislature
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.
2002: Gabbard Marries Eduardo Tamayo
In 2002, at the age of 21, Tulsi Gabbard married Eduardo Tamayo.
April 2003: Enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard
In April 2003, while serving in the Hawaii State Legislature, Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
2003: Joined Hawaii Army National Guard
In 2003, Gabbard joined the Hawaii Army National Guard.
July 2004: Deployed to Iraq
In July 2004, Gabbard was deployed for a 12-month tour in Iraq, serving as a specialist.
2004: Youngest State Legislator in Hawaii
From 2002 to 2004, Tulsi Gabbard was the youngest state legislator in Hawaii.
2004: Deployed to Iraq
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.
2005: Served in Iraq
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.
2005: Gabbard Deployed to Iraq
From 2004 to 2005, Tulsi Gabbard was deployed to Iraq, serving with the National Guard.
2006: Gabbard Divorces Eduardo Tamayo
In 2006, Tulsi Gabbard divorced Eduardo Tamayo, citing the stresses war places on military spouses and families.
March 2007: Graduated from Accelerated Officer Candidate School
In March 2007, 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, Gabbard completed the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy.
2007: Nancy Pelosi visit to Syria
Tulsi Gabbard's visit to Syria was the first by a U.S. lawmaker since Nancy Pelosi in 2007.
2008: Stationed in Kuwait
From 2008 to 2009, Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.
2009: Stationed in Kuwait
From 2008 to 2009, Gabbard was stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader.
2009: Graduated from Hawaii Pacific University
In 2009, Gabbard graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in international business.
2011: Characterization of U.S. Involvement in Syria
In 2018, Gabbard characterized the U.S. as waging a regime change war in Syria since 2011.
2012: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives
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.
2012: Apology for Anti-Gay Advocacy
In 2012, Tulsi Gabbard apologized for her "anti-gay advocacy" and pledged to "fight for the repeal" of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
June 2013: Cosponsor of DOMA Repeal Legislation
In June 2013, Tulsi Gabbard was an initial cosponsor of legislation aimed at repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
2013: Criticism of Obama's Refusal to Label Islamic Extremism
Between 2013 and 2017, Tulsi Gabbard criticized President Obama for not referring to the Islamic State's beliefs and terrorism as "Islamic extremism" or "radical Islam" during appearances on Fox News.
2013: Support for Easier Path to Citizenship
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.
2013: Vice-Chair of Democratic National Committee
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.
2013: Signing of Amicus Brief Supporting Gay Marriage
In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard signed an amicus brief supporting gay marriage, signaling a shift from her earlier views.
2013: Gabbard Takes Oath of Office with Bhagavad Gita
In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard took the oath of office using her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita, highlighting her Hindu faith.
2015: Criticism of Obama Administration on Islamic Extremists
In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard criticized the Obama administration for "refusing" to say that the "real enemy" of the United States is Islamic extremists.
2015: Gabbard Marries Abraham Williams
In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard married Abraham Williams in a traditional Vedic Hindu wedding.
2015: Meeting with Egyptian Dictator al-Sisi and Subsequent Criticism
In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard met with Egyptian dictator 'Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo and commended his "great courage and leadership" against "Islamist ideology", which led to widespread criticism due to Sisi's human rights record.
2015: Support for Increased Border Security and Refugee Vetting
In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard, along with 47 other Democrats, supported increased border security and voted with Republicans for vetting of Iraqi and Syrian refugees. She also called for halting the visa waiver program after mass numbers of Syrian immigrants entered Germany, until the threat of terrorist attacks was resolved.
2015: Became a Major with Hawaii Army National Guard
In 2015, while also serving in Congress, Gabbard became a major with the Hawaii Army National Guard.
2016: Description as Hawk and Dove
During an interview with the West Hawaii Today newspaper in 2016, Gabbard described herself as a hawk "when it comes to the war against terrorists", but a dove "when it comes to counterproductive wars of regime change".
2016: Resigned from DNC to endorse Bernie Sanders
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.
2016: Support for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
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.
2016: Gabbard Supports Diwali Commemorative Stamp
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.
2016: Opposition to GMO-Labeling Bill
In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard voted against a GMO-labeling bill, deeming it too weak, and supported clear GMO labeling.
2017: Criticism of Obama's Refusal to Label Islamic Extremism
Between 2013 and 2017, Tulsi Gabbard criticized President Obama for not referring to the Islamic State's beliefs and terrorism as "Islamic extremism" or "radical Islam" during appearances on Fox News.
2017: Statement on Syrian Rebels
Following her 2017 visit to Syria, Gabbard wrote, "There is no difference between "moderate" rebels and al-Qaeda (al-Nusra) or ISIS — they are all the same. This is a war between terrorists under the command of groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda and the Syrian government."
2017: Stop Arming Terrorists Act Introduced
In 2017, Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act which became law December 20, 2019.
October 16, 2018: Hawaii Pacific University's 2018 Paul T. C. Loo Distinguished Alumni
On October 16, 2018, Tulsi Gabbard was honored as Hawaii Pacific University's 2018 Paul T. C. Loo Distinguished Alumni.
2018: Characterization of U.S. Involvement in Syria
In 2018, Gabbard characterized the U.S. as waging a regime change war in Syria since 2011.
July 2019: Visited Puerto Rico and Joined 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. Just like Gadhafi in Libya." and emphasized her opposition to "wasteful regime-change wars."
December 2019: Vote of "Present" on Trump Impeachment
In December 2019, Tulsi Gabbard voted "present" during the House of Representatives' impeachment vote against President Trump, citing The Federalist Papers and protesting what she called a "political zero-sum game."
December 20, 2019: Stop Arming Terrorists Act Becomes Law
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.
2019: Apology for Past Anti-Gay Views During Presidential Campaign
After launching her presidential campaign in 2019, Tulsi Gabbard apologized for her past anti-gay views, attributing her changed perspective to her military experiences with LGBTQ service members.
2019: Amendment on Runit Dome Safety
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.
January 2020: Call for Drug Legalization and Regulation
In January 2020, Tulsi Gabbard advocated for the legalization and regulation of all drugs, drawing inspiration from Portugal's decriminalization model.
March 2020: Dropped out of Presidential Campaign and endorsed Joe Biden
In March 2020, Gabbard dropped out of her 2020 presidential campaign and endorsed Joe Biden.
June 2020: Introduction of CBD Amendment to NDAA
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.
2020: Transferred to U.S. Army Reserve
In 2020, Gabbard transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.
2020: Introduction of "Protect Women's Sports Act"
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard and Republican U.S. representative Markwayne Mullin introduced the "Protect Women's Sports Act," defining Title IX protections based on biological sex, leading to criticism from LGBTQ organizations.
2020: Criticism of Soleimani Airstrike
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard criticized the U.S. military's Baghdad International Airport airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, calling it an act of war without congressional authorization.
2020: Shift to Conservative Positions and Transgender Sports Ban Bill
In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard, during her Democratic presidential primary, displayed moderate stances, but afterwards shifted towards conservative positions on cultural issues. In 2020, she introduced a bill to ban trans-women from female sports.
2020: Stop Arming Terrorists Act Becomes Law
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.
November 2021: Celebrated Glenn Youngkin's Victory in Virginia Gubernatorial Election
In November 2021, Tulsi Gabbard celebrated the victory of Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia Gubernatorial election.
2021: Departure from Congress
After her departure from Congress in 2021, Gabbard took more conservative positions on issues such as abortion, foreign policy, LGBTQ rights, and border security.
2021: Support for Easier Path to Citizenship
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.
2021: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
In 2021, Gabbard was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
2021: NDAA Amendment
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.
April 2022: Expressed Support for Florida's Parental Rights Bill
In April 2022, Tulsi Gabbard expressed support for Florida's Parental Rights Bill, stating it didn't go far enough.
2022: Openness to Border Wall Proposal
By 2022, Tulsi Gabbard had stated she would be open to a proposal for a border wall if experts deemed it warranted.
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 schools.
2022: Left the Democratic Party
In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard left the Democratic Party.
2022: Featured Speaker at CPAC
In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard was a featured speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), marking her alignment with conservative platforms.
November 2023: Attendance at March for Israel
In November 2023, Tulsi Gabbard participated in the March for Israel in Washington, D.C.
2024: Endorsed Donald Trump and joined the Republican Party
In 2024, Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election and joined the Republican Party later that year.
2024: Joined the Republican Party
In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat, joined the Republican Party.
2024: Gabbard Discusses IVF Attempts on Podcast
While on Meghan McCain's podcast in 2024, Tulsi Gabbard mentioned that she and Williams had tried to start a family and had undergone several in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, without success.
February 2025: Confirmed by the Senate as DNI
In February 2025, Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by the Senate, becoming the highest-ranking Pacific Islander American government official in U.S. history.
