Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military veteran who served as the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa, and raised in Hawaii. Gabbard is a member of the Democratic Party and gained national attention when she ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election, making her the first Hindu candidate to do so.

She’s known for her service in the Hawaii Army National Guard, where she deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and later to Kuwait in 2009. Her political career started early—she was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives at 21, serving from 2002 to 2004, before resigning to deploy with the military. As a congresswoman, she often took independent stances, like opposing certain U.S. military interventions and meeting with controversial figures such as Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in 2017, which drew both praise and criticism.

In recent years, Gabbard has shifted away from the Democratic mainstream. She left the party in 2022, citing its direction under "elitist cabal" influence, and has since identified as an independent. She endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election and, after his victory, was nominated by him to serve as Director of National Intelligence in his upcoming administration, announced in November 2024. Her political evolution, military background, and outspoken views on foreign policy and free speech have made her a polarizing figure. She’s also a practicing Hindu, influenced by her upbringing, and co-chaired the Congressional Hindu Caucus during her time in Congress.