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 currently serving as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) since 2025. She holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Previously, she represented Hawaii's 2nd congressional district as a U.S. Representative from 2013 to 2021. Gabbard began her political career as the youngest state legislator in Hawaii from 2002 to 2004. Formerly a Democrat, she switched to the Republican Party in 2024.

Sections (5)

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

1915: Spoke about 1915 mass killings

While talking about the 1915 mass killings, Gabbard said, "the Ottoman Empire was attempting to cleanse itself of the Armenian and Christian populations, and the US became home to many survivors".

April 12, 1981: Tulsi Gabbard Born

On April 12, 1981, Tulsi Gabbard was born in Leloaloa, Maʻopūtasi County, American Samoa. She is an American politician and military officer who has served as the 8th director of national intelligence (DNI) since 2025.

Others born on this day/year

1983: Family Moved Back to Hawaii

In 1983, when Gabbard was two years old, her family moved back to Hawaii.

1988: Parents owned The Natural Deli

From 1988, Tulsi Gabbard's parents owned a small vegetarian restaurant, The Natural Deli in Moiliili, Hawaii.

1992: Parents no longer owned The Natural Deli

By 1992, Tulsi Gabbard's parents no longer 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 successful campaign to amend the Constitution of Hawaii, giving lawmakers the power to "reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples".

2002: Hawaii State Legislature

In 2002, Tulsi Gabbard, at age 21, became the youngest state legislator in Hawaii after being elected to the Hawaii State Legislature.

2002: Dropped out of Leeward Community College and ran for election

In 2002, at the age of 21, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of Leeward Community College to run for election to the Hawaii state legislature, becoming the youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative.

2002: Married Eduardo Tamayo

In 2002, at the age of 21, Tulsi Gabbard married Eduardo Tamayo.

2005: Served in Iraq

From 2004 to 2005, Tulsi Gabbard served in Iraq with the National Guard.

2006: Divorced Eduardo Tamayo

In 2006, Tulsi Gabbard divorced Eduardo Tamayo, citing the stresses war places on military spouses and families as the reason.

2007: Nancy Pelosi visit to Syria

In 2007, Nancy Pelosi visited Syria. Tulsi Gabbard's January 2017 visit to Syria was the first by a U.S. lawmaker since Pelosi's.

2007: Completed Officer Training

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

2009: Graduated from Hawaii Pacific University

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

2011: U.S. involvement in Syria

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

2013: Took oath of office

In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard took the oath of office with her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita.

2015: Married Abraham Williams

In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard married freelance cinematographer and editor Abraham Williams in a traditional Vedic Hindu wedding.

2015: Meeting with Egyptian dictator al-Sisi

In 2015, Tulsi Gabbard met with Egyptian dictator Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Following the meeting, she praised Sisi's "great courage and leadership" in his regime's war against "Islamist ideology." This close engagement with Sisi, who was responsible for the Rabaa massacre, drew widespread criticism.

February 28, 2016: Gabbard Resigns as DNC Vice Chair and Endorses Bernie Sanders

On February 28, 2016, Tulsi Gabbard resigned as DNC vice chair to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. She later discussed her resignation on Meet the Press and launched a petition to eliminate superdelegates in the Democratic nomination process.

2016: Gabbard Listed as Sanders's Running Mate and Mentioned as Potential Presidential Candidate

During the 2016 election, Tulsi Gabbard was listed as Bernie Sanders's running mate for write-in votes in California. Shortly after the 2016 election, she was mentioned as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.

2016: Supported Diwali commemorative stamp

In 2016, Tulsi Gabbard supported the campaign by Hindu Americans for a Diwali commemorative stamp in the United States, noting that the Diwali festival honors values such as righteousness that transcend different religions, and backgrounds.

October 16, 2018: Honored as Distinguished Alumni

On October 16, 2018, Tulsi Gabbard was honored as Hawaii Pacific University's 2018 Paul T. C. Loo Distinguished Alumni.

February 2019: Gabbard Launches 2020 Presidential Campaign

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

July 2019: Gabbard Visits Puerto Rico and Joins 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: 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 on two attacks, stating there "is evidence" that both sides have used chemical weapons in Syria. Gabbard "remained skeptical" of the Khan Shaykhun and Douma chemical attacks, expressing concern about over-reliance on social media posts to support military actions.

October 25, 2019: Gabbard Announces She Will Not Seek Reelection

On October 25, 2019, Tulsi Gabbard announced that she would not seek reelection in 2020, citing her presidential campaign as the reason.

January 2020: Gabbard Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Clinton

In January 2020, Tulsi Gabbard filed a legal defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton over the "Russian asset" assertion.

March 19, 2020: Gabbard Drops Out of 2020 Election and Endorses Joe Biden

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

July 2020: Gabbard Meets with Vanessa Guillén's Family

In July 2020, Tulsi Gabbard met with the family of Vanessa Guillén, a U.S. Army soldier who was murdered after being reported missing. Gabbard, as a fellow service member, called for reforms to address military sexual harassment, standing in support of Guillén and her family.

August 2020: Gabbard Advocates 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. Smith was placed on paid leave, and Gabbard supported her reinstatement.

2020: Faithless Elector Vote Nullified

In 2020, a Minnesota faithless elector cast a vote for Bernie Sanders as president and Tulsi Gabbard as vice president, though this vote was nullified per state law.

2020: Presidential Campaign run

January 2021: Gabbard Launches Podcast and Appears on Fox News

In January 2021, Tulsi Gabbard launched her own podcast, called This is Tulsi Gabbard. Also in January 2021, she made several appearances on Fox News programs since leaving Congress.

November 2021: Gabbard Celebrates Youngkin's Victory in Virginia

In November 2021, Tulsi Gabbard celebrated the victory of Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia Gubernatorial election over Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe.

2021: Biden recognized the Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians as a genocide

In 2021, despite opposition by Turkey, President Joe Biden recognized the Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians as a genocide.

April 2022: Gabbard Expresses 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.

October 11, 2022: Gabbard Leaves Democratic Party

On October 11, 2022, Tulsi Gabbard announced on Twitter that she was leaving the Democratic Party, accusing its leadership of "cowardly wokeness, anti-white racism, [being] hostile to people of faith and spirituality, and dragging us closer to nuclear war".

2022: Left the Democratic Party

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard left the Democratic Party.

February 22, 2024: Gabbard Speaks 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: Gabbard Discussed as Potential Trump Running Mate

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

August 26, 2024: Gabbard Endorses 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.

October 22, 2024: Gabbard Joins 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: Trump Nominates Gabbard 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.

2024: Discussed IVF procedures

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.