Tulsi Gabbard speaking to thousands of North American Hindu Leaders gathered at BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Robbinsville, NJ, on December 15, 2024. Photo courtesy: Tulsi Gabbard.
February 12, 2025- In a 52-48 vote, Tulsi Gabbard, a former four-term member of the US House of Representatives and Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserves, was confirmed by the full US Senate to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). One of the most powerful positions in the US government, the Director serves as the head of the expansive US Intelligence community and as a principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council. This high-level position was elevated to cabinet-level status during the first presidency of Donald Trump, a rank that was retained under former President Joe Biden.
The 43-year-old ex-Congresswoman for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District is a practicing Vaishnavi in the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya and was the first Hindu to join either chamber of the US Congress. She was also the first national politician to take the oath of office on her personal copy of the Bhagavad-gita, which was later gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2014 visit to New York City.
Tulsi served for a year in Iraq as the 29th Brigade’s Medical Operations specialist. Later, in 2008, she was deployed to the Middle East for a second combat tour of duty as a Military Police platoon leader charged with training the Kuwait National Guard’s Counter-Terrorism unit. “Tulsi Gabbard stands as a unique figure in American politics, not just as a former congresswoman and military veteran but as a dedicated Vaishnava who has long supported religious minorities and championed the cause of interfaith harmony,” said Madana-gopala Dasa, Co-Director of ISKCON Communications North America.
While not putting her faith center stage in her political career, Gabbard isn’t shy about her beliefs, regularly releasing videos appreciating significant Hindu holidays. In interviews and a speech before the United Nations, Tulsi has openly shared how the Bhagavad-gita has shaped her values and decisions. She has been a long-time friend of ISKCON, visiting our temples in places like Honolulu and New Delhi and speaking at the 2019 LA Ratha Yatra while a Democratic candidate for the 2020 US Presidential elections. Tulsi was also the keynote speaker at ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Gala Event held in Washington, D.C. in 2016 which commemorated Srila Prabhupada’s arrival to the United States and his founding of ISKCON in 1965.
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