If there’s one item Washington loves, it’s regularity. Establishment lawmakers play their part, toe the collection, and maintain the balance of power remains untouched. And then there’s Tulsi Gabbard—a string who started as a liberal sweetheart, burned bridges with the Democratic Party, became a right-wing beloved, and apparently, in the best story twist, ended up running America’s intelligence community.
One of the most jaw-dropping political decisions ever made by her to become director of national intelligence ( DNI ) is the Deep State, which infuriates the Washington elite and causes existential crisis in the country. The objections were quiet and many: her meetings with Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad, her Russia-friendly talking points, her story of attacking America’s foreign plan establishment, and her unexpected social transformation.
So how did Tulsi Gabbard become the most effective intelligence official in the US government after joining an obscure religion of a border religious sect? Buckle off.
The Worship
Gabbard’s history begins in a place far removed from Washington: Leloaloa, American Samoa. Her father, Mike Gabbard, a flaming social liberal, moved the family to Hawaii, where they became strongly associated with the Science of Identity Foundation, a mysterious spiritual team led by Chris Butler.
The team’s critics have described it as a” cult”, known for tight behavior, an obsession with cleanliness, and an intense devotion to Butler, who considers himself a divine master. Previous members of the group say she grew upward deeply influenced by its philosophy, despite Gabbard having denied direct role in its most intense techniques.
She ran for office as a social conservative who strongly opposed same-sex matrimony and abortion rights when she was 21 years old. She won a seat in the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002. But Gabbard’s true conversion began after joining the military.
A Soldier Turned Maverick Legislator
Gabbard was stationed in Iraq in 2004 as a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard. She later worked for a cybersecurity work force in Kuwait. This knowledge, she claims, shaped her unusual plan views—leading her to become one of the most outspoken critics of America’s authoritarian war.
By 2012, she was again in politics, winning a seat in Congress as a Democrat. She immediately became a rising star: fresh, likable, and the first Hindu in Congress. In 2016, she supported Bernie Sanders, and in 2016 she made headlines by leaving the Democratic National Committee in opposition of its partiality toward Hillary Clinton.
Finally things started to find… crazy.
The Assad Meeting and the Russia Connection
In 2017, Gabbard made a “fact-finding” excursion to Syria, where she met with Bashar al-Assad. This wasn’t some everyday political handshake—this was a high-profile sit-down with a despot accused of using chemical weapons on his own citizens. More erupting in doubt is the claim that the trip was co-ordinated by people of a pro-Assad political party.
Gabbard’s unwillingness to attribute Assad an American ally and her drive to end American support for Arab separatists received widespread condemnation. She was accused of allowing a harsh tyrant to legitimize him. She defended the trip, claiming that American deserved to learn” the other side of the story.”
But it didn’t stop it.
Gabbard’s language on Russia even stood out. She persistently criticized Russian sanctions against Moscow and criticized US presence in Ukraine, which sparked rumors about her ties to Vladimir Putin’s program. Belarusian state media lavished praise on her, and in 2019, Hillary Clinton notably suggested Gabbard was being “groomed” by international powers—possibly Russia—to work as a third-party teaser. The declare, while not substantiated, fueled countless speculation about her allegiances.
The Democrat Party Marriage
By 2020, Gabbard was entirely at conflict with the Democratic establishment. Her national campaign was an unusual combination of liberal economic policies, libertarian-leaning foreign policy, and society war takes that seemed designed to appeal to conservatives.
She tore Kamala Harris in a contentious debate time, slammed identity politics, and closed her battle with a rare endorsement of Joe Biden, despite the fact that few in the Democrat Party thought she meant it.
By 2022, she had actually left the party, calling Liberals a “woke, elite cabal” more interested in “dragging us into war” than serving the people. She became a Fox News device, filling in as a guest host for Tucker Carlson, wall against” the Strong State”, and alert of the consequences of a “globalist elite”.
From Biden Critic to MAGAvenger
After renouncing her relationship with the Democratic Party, Gabbard found herself in a strange position: a former progressive who is now embraced by the populist right. Her criticism of “woke ideology”, her military credentials, and her relentless attacks on Kamala Harris made her an instant hit with Trump’s base. During the 2024 presidential campaign, she unofficially became Trump’s secret weapon, prepping him for debates against Harris and hammering home his anti-war messaging. Unlike other MAGA surrogates, she brought a unique credibility—she wasn’t a career Republican, yet she fiercely opposed the same institutions MAGA wanted dismantled. Her role as an independent outsider in Trump’s “MAGA-vengers” team—alongside figures like JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy—cemented her status as a key player in the new populist coalition.
Enter Trump: The Intelligence Community’s Worst Nightmare
After Tulsi Gabbard sworn in as the Director of National Intelligence at the White House in Washington, President Donald Trump joins her and her husband, Abraham Williams. AP/PT I
When Trump won the election in 2024, he needed an intelligence chief who wouldn’t abide by the outdated establishment rules. Gabbard, with her military background, skepticism of the intelligence community, and outsider status, was the perfect pick.
Her nomination for DNI triggered an all-out war in Washington.
The objections were immediate:
- After warming up to a dictator, critics questioned whether she could be trusted with America’s most sensitive intelligence.
- Her Russia-friendly stance: With ongoing tensions in Ukraine, many saw her as too soft on Putin.
- Her attacks on the CIA and FBI were based on accusations that she had spent years refuting and undermining democracy. Now, she was about to be their boss.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s MAGA wing rallied behind her, and the Republican Senate majority ensured her confirmation with a 52-48 vote. Only one Republican—Mitch McConnell—broke ranks, calling her” an unreliable steward of America’s intelligence operations”.
Why Does the Deep State Hate Her?
Gabbard’s appointment isn’t just controversial—it’s a direct attack on Washington’s intelligence establishment.
Gabbard has long been seen as a threat by The Deep State, the term frequently used to describe the deeply entrenched power structure within the intelligence and military-industrial complex. She opposes regime-change wars, wants to limit US involvement abroad, and isn’t afraid to call out the intelligence community’s past mistakes ( Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya—the list goes on ).
Her critics worry that by shifting her focus from domestic issues like border security and government overreach, she will weaken America’s global influence. Her allies, on the other hand, see her as a much-needed disruptor who will finally rein in the unchecked power of the intelligence community.
What Happens Next?
Gabbard’s tenure as DNI is just beginning, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. She will have access to the nation’s most classified intelligence, oversee America’s spy agencies, and influence how the country responds to foreign and domestic threats. One thing is for sure—Tulsi Gabbard’s story isn’t over. If her career has taught us anything, it’s that she thrives on unpredictability. And in a world where former cult members can become America’s top spy, anything is possible.
