In a surprise move, US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under his incoming administration. Gabbard is a former Democratic Congresswoman who ran for the party's presidential nomination in 2019. She is a decorated US Army veteran who served as a Lieutenant Colonel and fought in the Iraq war. 

CREDIT: REUTERS

Gabbard, who was born in American Samoa to parents of European and Samoan ancestry, was named Tulsi by her mother, who became interested in Hinduism.  

She started her political career at the age of 21 in 2002 when she was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives. Gabbard entered the United States House of Representatives in 2013 from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.  

Also read: Why is Donald Trump taking Tulsi Gabbard's help to prepare for debate with Kamala Harris?

In 2019, Gabbard launched her 2020 presidential campaign, becoming the first female combat veteran to run for president of the US. But in 2020, she ended her campaign and endorsed Joe Biden. Though her presidential campaign was unsuccessful, Gabbard was also credited for "ending" the presidential bid of another hopeful. 

CREDIT: AP

Kamala Harris, who went on to become Biden's Vice President and the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, was also in the race in 2019. But during a primary debate, Gabbard attacked Harris on the debate stage over her record as a prosecutor, which many consider as the moment that ended the Indian-American's bid.  

In 2022, Gabbard left the Democratic Party and earlier this year joined the Trump campaign to help the Republican prepare for his presidential debate with Harris.  

Incidentally, in her new role, Gabbard will be leading the same organization whose credibility she has repeatedly questioned in the past — US Intelligence.  

CREDIT: AP

Gabbard was also a critic of Trump during his first term and had described the killing of top Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad as an "illegal and unconstitutional act of war."

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