President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in his new Cabinet. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman for Hawaii’s 2nd District, is the first Samoan-American elected to Congress and brings a wealth of military and political experience to the role.
Gabbard was born in American Samoa, with family roots in Tutuila, one of the main islands in the Samoan archipelago. Raised in Hawaii, she attributes her values of public service and commitment to duty to her Samoan heritage and her family’s deep ties to the community in Tutuila, American Samoa.
Gabbard served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, initially as a Democrat. In 2022, she became an independent and later joined the Republican Party. She is a decorated military veteran, having completed two deployments to the Middle East, including Iraq, and currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, where she commands a battalion in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump praised her dedication to the country, noting, “She has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans.” He highlighted her bipartisan appeal, adding, “As a former candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both parties.”
Expressing confidence in Gabbard’s leadership, Trump described her as a “fearless” choice for leading the Intelligence Community. He emphasized that she would “champion our Constitutional Rights” while guiding national security policy.
As Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee the entire U.S. intelligence community, including key agencies such as the CIA, NSA, and FBI. In this capacity, she will manage the National Intelligence Program and provide critical advice to the president on security matters, reinforcing national security.
She will replace Avril Haines upon Senate confirmation, assuming responsibility for briefing President Trump, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on key national security issues.
Gabbard recently expressed her eagerness to take on the role, stating she would be “honoured” to join the Trump administration and contribute to shaping national security and foreign policy.
