Know more on Tulsi Gabbard, appointed Intelligence chief by President-elect Trump

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard as the next Director of National Intelligence, according to reports. Gabbard, who will serve as the president's top intelligence advisor, brings over two decades of military experience but lacks the conventional intelligence background held by past directors.

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Gabbard, 43, was born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, with part of her childhood spent in the Philippines. She made history as the first Hindu and American Samoan elected to Congress, representing Hawaii. Sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita, Gabbard's tenure in politics began at the age of 21 when she was elected to Hawaii’s House of Representatives. She paused her political career to serve in Iraq with the Hawaii National Guard.

During her four terms in Congress, Gabbard gained a reputation for speaking out against her party's leadership. In 2016, she earned national prominence by supporting Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 and endorsed Trump earlier this year, gaining significant traction among his supporters. Her appointment signals a shift in the leadership of U.S. intelligence under the incoming administration.