U.S.(Washington Insider Magazine) – President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence (DNI), a crucial position overseeing the nation’s spy agencies and advising the president on intelligence matters.
Gabbard, 43, brings a unique background to the role, with more than two decades of military service but without the typical intelligence experience of past officeholders. She left the Democratic Party in 2022, later endorsing Trump and becoming a prominent figure among his supporters.
Here are key things to know about Tulsi Gabbard:
- Trailblazer in Congress Born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, Gabbard was the first Hindu elected to the U.S. Congress. She was also the first American Samoan to serve in Congress. During her tenure, she became known for her vocal opposition to her party’s leadership, including her early support for Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016.
- Presidential Run and Party Shift In 2020, Gabbard ran for president with a progressive platform and strong opposition to U.S. military interventions. After dropping out, she endorsed Joe Biden. However, in 2022, she left the Democratic Party, citing its drift toward “elitism” and “wokeness,” and later campaigned for Republicans, appearing on Fox News and starting a podcast.
- A Key Trump Ally Gabbard’s endorsement of Trump this year solidified her role in his campaign and earned her a prominent place in Trump’s political orbit. She is viewed as a symbol of Trump’s ability to attract cross-party support, appearing alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and helping Trump prepare for debates.
- Military Experience, Not Intelligence Expertise Gabbard, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran with combat experience in Iraq, does not come from an intelligence background. Her military credentials include receiving a Combat Medical Badge for operations in Iraq in 2005. Despite serving on the House Homeland Security Committee for two years, she has never held a senior national security role.
- Oversight of Intelligence Overhaul Trump has expressed a desire to overhaul U.S. intelligence services, which he has criticized as part of a “deep state” that undermined his first administration. As DNI, Gabbard will oversee efforts to reform these agencies, focusing on loyalty and trust within the federal bureaucracy.
The position of DNI, created in 2004 following the 9/11 attacks, aims to improve coordination across intelligence agencies and safeguard national security. Gabbard’s appointment marks a significant shift in the leadership of U.S. intelligence services, as Trump’s administration seeks to make sweeping changes to the sector.
