In a development that sent shockwaves through the U.S. political landscape, former Democratic Representative and candidate for president Tulsi Gabbard was nominated by Donald Trump to serve as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
This unexpected move highlights Gabbard’s dramatic ideological shift but also raises questions about the influence of foreign ideological groups on American politics, particularly the Hindu nationalist movement known as the Sangh Parivar.
The Transformation of Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard’s political journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Once hailed as a rising star in the Democratic Party, Gabbard executed a remarkable transformation that has left many political observers bewildered as she transitioned from a progressive darling to a MAGA enthusiast. The move, however, ought to raise more red flags than, you might say, a Soviet parade.
Gabbard's early career was marked by progressive stances that endeared her to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. She championed causes such as Medicare for All, environmental protection, and anti-interventionist foreign policy. She even endorsed Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, for U.S. president in 2016.
However, in recent years, Gabbard has undergone a dramatic ideological shift, aligning herself with the MAGA movement and embracing many positions she once vehemently opposed.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, citing its “wokeness” and “anti-white racism,” Gabbard began appearing regularly on Fox News and other right-wing media outlets. Her rhetoric increasingly echoed Trump's, particularly on issues of “deep state” corruption and the need to “drain the swamp” in Washington.
She finally endorsed Trump in August 2024.
This transformation reached its zenith with her nomination as DNI by President-Elect Trump. The nomination has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, given Gabbard’s lack of traditional intelligence experience and her controversial stances on various national security issues.
Her political makeover, however, should be met with a level of skepticism — extreme skepticism, even — considering the origins of her national political career. The origins are those in which angling for power, principles be damned, appear to be the ultimate end goal. Thus, as a nominee for DNI, Gabbard cannot be trusted.
The Sangh Parivar Connection
The biggest national security issue is Tulsi Gabbard’s ties to India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) paramilitary and its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Behind Gabbard’s political metamorphosis lies a complex web of connections to the Sangh Parivar, a family of Hindu nationalist organizations with significant influence in India and growing reach in the United States. The RSS-BJP are the source of this network.
Gabbard’s rise in U.S. politics has been fueled, in large part, by substantial financial support from individuals associated with U.S.-based Sangh affiliates. At least 105 current and former officers and members of these organizations, along with their families, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Gabbard’s campaigns since 2011. This financial backing raises questions about the extent of the Sangh Parivar’s influence on Gabbard’s political positions and career trajectory.
The RSS, the ideological fountainhead of the Sangh Parivar, has maintained close ties with Gabbard throughout her political career. She has spoken at numerous RSS events, including at least two in India, and has been photographed with RSS leaders on multiple occasions.
Not just “photographed.” In 2015, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav attended Gabbard’s wedding to deliver personal congratulations from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A personal, not a political, touch.
Gabbard’s relationship with the RSS has been a source of controversy, particularly given the organization’s history of promoting Hindu nationalism and its alleged involvement in communal violence in India. When questioned about these ties, Gabbard deflects, framing such inquiries as “Hinduphobia” rather than addressing specific concerns about the RSS’s ideology and actions — or her ties to it.
She never bothers to discuss how the RSS-BJP have openly voiced — and repeatedly acted upon — their desire to murder Indian Christians and Muslims. Instead, she has defended the concept of “Hindu nationalism.”
Did we mention yet that the Hindu nationalist regime led by Modi has attempted to murder American citizens — and successfully assassinated a Canadian citizen?
The Modi Connection and Foreign Policy Implications
Gabbard played a significant role in rehabilitating Modi’s image in the United States.
Despite concerns raised by human rights organizations about the spread of Hindu nationalist violence under Modi’s regime (including how he was banned from the U.S. for nearly 10 years due to his involvement in the 2002 Gujarat Massacre), Gabbard consistently portrays a Modi-ruled India as an “indispensable partner” to the United States and advocates for unconditional cooperation between the two countries.
Her nomination as DNI raises serious questions about the potential impact on U.S. foreign policy, particularly concerning India and the broader South Asian region. Gabbard’s ties to the Modi regime and Hindu nationalist organizations, especially U.S.-based outfits linked to the RSS-BJP, will compromise her ability to provide objective intelligence assessments on issues related to India and its neighbors.
The Controversial Nomination and Its Implications
Trump’s decision to nominate Gabbard for the critical position of DNI has sent ripples through the intelligence community and political circles. The role of DNI, created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, is crucial in coordinating intelligence gathering and analysis across various U.S. agencies.
Gabbard’s nomination has rightfully met with incredulity from both Democrats and Republicans, yet the one aspect they haven’t noticed is her RSS-BJP ties.
Critics point to her lack of traditional intelligence experience and her controversial foreign policy views as major concerns. Her past meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her dubious view of U.S. intelligence assessments on Russian interference in the 2016 election are particularly contentious issues. Whatever the truth of those views may be, however, the biggest issue remains Tulsi Gabbard’s ties to the RSS-BJP, which are foundational to her national political career.
If confirmed, Gabbard’s appointment could significantly reshape the U.S. intelligence community’s priorities and operations. Her reported parroting of Kremlin talking points and apparent sympathy for authoritarian leaders like Assad could lead to a realignment of intelligence priorities and potentially strain relationships with key U.S. allies. Meanwhile, her links to the Modi regime will damage U.S. national security after his government attempted to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil.
Modi critics in North America already need to watch their backs — even more so if Tulsi Gabbard is confirmed as DNI.
The Broader Implications for American Democracy
Gabbard’s nomination and her dramatic ideological shift serve as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between domestic politics and global supremacist ideological movements. It underscores our country’s need for greater transparency and accountability in political financing and foreign influences on U.S. politics, as well as the need to vet leadership for their ties to supremacist and extremist movements.
The Gabbard saga highlights the sophisticated ways in which foreign ideological groups attempt to influence U.S. democratic processes. The Sangh Parivar’s strategy of supporting politicians across party lines, focusing on gaining influence rather than adhering to any specific partisan ideology, reveals a level of political opportunism that demands closer scrutiny.
The Sangh, in short, doesn’t give a damn about party as long as they can get their man — or woman — in power.
Foreign Interference in U.S. Politics
Gabbard’s nomination comes at a time when the United States is grappling with increasing foreign interference in its political processes. While the Sangh Parivar’s influence represents a unique case, it is part of a broader pattern of foreign actors attempting to shape American politics.
China has actively engaged in influence operations targeting the United States. In the 2024 election cycle, Chinese actors created fake pro-Trump social media accounts to promote conspiracy theories and stoke domestic divisions. The Chinese government has also focused on down-ballot races, targeting specific anti-China politicians.
Russia has continued its pattern of interference, representing the most active threat to the 2024 US elections. Russian efforts have included a multimillion-dollar operation to spread pro-Russia content to American audiences and attempts to co-opt right-wing influencers to espouse pro-Russian content and conspiracy theories.
Iran has also ramped up its interference efforts, targeting both major political parties. In 2024, Iranian hackers conducted spear-phishing attacks against high-ranking officials in presidential campaigns. Iranian actors have also engaged in social media disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing discord and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
In this context, Gabbard’s nomination as DNI raises significant national security concerns. As the head of the U.S. intelligence community, the DNI plays a crucial role in identifying and countering foreign threats to American democracy.
When American citizens are facing assassination attempts in the U.S. for being critics of Modi, and the DNI is someone whose national political career is dependent on Modi sympathizers (and, honestly, not just that, but people who literally worked from America to get Modi in India), can we really expect objectivity?
Beware Foreign Actors: Who’s Running the U.S.?
The convergence of Gabbard’s connections to the Sangh Parivar and the broader landscape of foreign interference presents a complex challenge for U.S. national security. It underscores the need for heightened vigilance and robust measures to safeguard the integrity of American democratic processes.
As the United States navigates an interconnected world, it must remain vigilant against attempts by foreign ideological groups — like the RSS-BJP — to shape its political landscape. The Gabbard nomination serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough vetting processes for high-level government positions and the need for a clear-eyed assessment of the forces shaping our political discourse.
Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as DNI by Trump represents a culmination of her bizarre political transformation and highlights the complex web of influences shaping American politics.
While Gabbard’s confirmation process unfolds, it should spark intense debates about national security, foreign influence, and the future direction of U.S. intelligence operations. Regardless of the outcome, this nomination ought to serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing American democracy in an era of where supremacist movement are on a global rise and political allegiances are malleable.
