New York: US President-elect Donald Trump has named Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, to his cabinet as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
"Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength," Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday announcing his pick for the post.
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"For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans," Trump said referring to her rank as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve serving in the Iraq War.
Gabbard, who resigned from the Democratic Party earlier this year and formally joined the Republican Party, campaigned for Trump in the lead-up to the election, urging Indian Americans to support him. "As a former presidential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, she has broad support in both parties," Trump said.
Once a rising star within the Democratic Party, Gabbard’s political shift represents a massive turn. She had been a supporter of progressive causes and even backed Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. In 2020, Gabbard ran for president herself but did not gain much traction. Her decision to join the Republican Party and support Trump has drawn mixed reactions, with some Democrats calling her a "turncoat."
A historic role and responsibilities
If confirmed by the Senate, Gabbard will become the second Hindu to serve in a top US government position, after Arati Prabhakar, who works as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Biden.
After a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, Gabbard said, "India is the world's largest democracy and one of the United States' most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region."
"We spoke about the need to continue to work together to address the pressing issues that impact us and the world," she said. "We discussed the situation in Kashmir, civil rights, empowering women, and addressing poverty, as well as the concern about escalating tensions with Iran," she added.
As the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including the National Counterterrorism Center, the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, and others. Her role will also involve preparing daily intelligence briefings for the President and monitoring emerging security threats.
In addition to Gabbard’s nomination, Trump has tapped Representative Mike Waltz, a key member of the India Caucus in Congress, to serve as his National Security Adviser. Senator Marco Rubio, who is a strong supporter of India, has been nominated as Secretary of State.
Gabbard’s background and controversies
Gabbard was first elected to Congress in 2004 and made history as the first Hindu member of the US legislature, taking the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita. She comes from a mixed heritage, with Samoan roots on her father's side and European on her mother’s side.
While in Congress, Gabbard was a vocal critic of her party’s leadership, resigning from her position as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2016 after accusing the party of unfairly favouring Hillary Clinton in the presidential primaries. Gabbard’s public feud with Clinton escalated during the 2020 presidential campaign, where she famously clashed with Vice President Kamala Harris over her record as a prosecutor in California.
Despite her controversial political journey, Gabbard has earned support from Republicans, and her nomination is expected to pass easily in the Senate. However, her Hindu faith has been a point of contention for some critics. Both American and Indian media outlets, such as The Intercept and The Caravan, have raised concerns about her ties to Hindu nationalist groups.
Agency
Published: 14 Nov 2024, 06:30 am IST
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