4 hours ago
3
Tulsi Gabbard has been confirmed as the
director of national intelligence
(DNI) in a 52-48 vote by the
US Senate
, making history as the first
Hindu
to lead the country's
intelligence community
.
ISKCON
has praised Gabbard’s appointment, highlighting her strong
Vaishnava values
and hoping they will guide her in the role.
“We pray that Tulsi Gabbard’s experience in government, along with her foundation in Vaishnavism—selfless service, determination, care for others, equality, tolerance, humility, and integrity—will help her succeed,” said Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s global minister of communications.
The former four-term congresswoman was born in the US territory of American Samoa and was raised in Hawaii and the Philippines.
Tulsi Gabbard's mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, grew up in a diverse cultural environment and developed an interest in Hinduism. She passed on this spiritual influence to her children, all of whom have Hindu names—Bhakti, Jai, Aryan, Tulsi, and Vrindavan. Tulsi herself actively follows Hindu traditions and beliefs.
Gabbard, a former lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserves, now holds a top position in the US government. She oversees the intelligence community and advises the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.
'Dedicated Vaishnava'
Gabbard, 43, was the first Hindu to serve in the US Congress and is a practicing Vaishnavi in the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. She took her congressional oath of office on her personal copy of the
Bhagavad-gita
, which she later gifted to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2014 visit to New York.
Gabbard’s military career includes a year-long deployment in Iraq as a medical operations specialist with the 29th Brigade. In 2008, she returned to the Middle East for a second combat tour as a military police platoon leader, training Kuwait’s National Guard Counter-Terrorism unit.
ISKCON leaders highlighted Gabbard’s long-standing support for religious minorities and interfaith harmony. “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.
Gabbard as DNI
Although Gabbard hasn’t made her faith the focus of her political career, she has spoken about how the Bhagavad-gita shapes her values. She regularly shares videos for Hindu festivals, has discussed her beliefs at global events like the UN, and has even gone viral chanting 'Hare Krishna.'
Gabbard has a close connection with ISKCON. She has visited temples in Honolulu and New Delhi, spoken at the 2019 LA Ratha Yatra during her presidential campaign, and was the keynote speaker at ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, DC, in 2016.
Gabbard’s political career has been marked by both praise and criticism. Like many of President Donald Trump’s nominees, her confirmation as DNI has sparked debate. “Her independent stance on various issues, coupled with her past interactions with figures across the political spectrum, has led to both praise and criticism,” said Madana-gopala Dasa. “However, as devotees, we focus not on political discord but on the potential positive impact that individuals can bring to the world.”
As DNI, a role elevated to cabinet level under Trump and kept by Biden, Gabbard will be at the centre of national security decisions.
Many welcomed Gabbard’s appointment, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, who expressed his support on X. Some Republican senators were initially unsure but backed her after she assured them that she would focus on the core duties of the role—overseeing intelligence operations and advising the president.
In 2012, many assumed Tulsi Gabbard was of Indian origin because of her name and religion. She clarified this herself, stating, "I am not of Indian origin," in response to a message calling her Indian-American.
