Tulsi Gabbard is first US official to meet Modi. Her connection to India, explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the United States for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump.

This is PM Modi’s first trip to the US since Donald Trump began his second term as president.

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On Wednesday (local time), Modi met Tulsi Gabbard, who is the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the Trump administration.

They spoke about India-US relations, and Modi also congratulated Gabbard on her Senate confirmation as DNI.

Many believe Tulsi Gabbard has Indian roots, but that is simply not the case. So, what is her actual ‘connection’ to India?

Let’s find out:

Fact Check: Is Tulsi Gabbard of Indian origin?

She is not of Indian origin.

Tulsi Gabbard was born in American Samoa, a US territory, and spent her early years in Hawaii, with a brief period in the Philippines during her childhood.

She entered politics at a young age, winning a seat in Hawaii’s House of Representatives at just 21. However, her political career paused after one term.

Gabbard later returned, securing a seat in Congress to represent Hawaii. She made history as the first Hindu member of the US House, taking her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

She was also the first American Samoan elected to Congress.

So, what is her connection to a Hindu name?

Due to her first name, many mistakenly assume Gabbard has Indian roots, but she has no direct connection to India.

Her mother converted to Hinduism and gave all her children Hindu names.

Tulsi’s mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, grew up in a multicultural environment and developed an interest in Hinduism. She named her children Bhakti, Jai, Aryan, Tulsi, and Vrindavan. Tulsi herself follows Hinduism.

Because of her faith, many believed she had Indian ancestry.

In 2012, she addressed this assumption directly, clarifying, “I am not of Indian origin,” in response to a message identifying her as an Indian-American.

As the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will not only serve as America’s chief intelligence officer but also hold a cabinet-level position overseeing 18 intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Oaths on Bhagavad Gita, Hindu identity: Tulsi’s India connect

A practising Vaishnava Hindu and devotee of Lord Krishna, Tulsi Gabbard recently stated that the discrimination she faced was not just a personal attack but part of a larger effort to promote religious bigotry against Hindus and Hinduism.

She encouraged those genuinely interested in her spiritual journey to take a look at her social media, where she shares insights into her beliefs.

Gabbard, a four-term Congresswoman, 2020 presidential candidate, and New York Times bestselling author, was the first Hindu ever elected to the US Congress.

In 2012, during her swearing-in ceremony as a member of the US House of Representatives, she took the oath of office on her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita.

Reflecting on this in 2020, she said, “My Gita has been a tremendous source of inner peace and strength through many tough challenges in life, including being in the midst of death and turmoil while serving our country in West Asia.”

In 2017, she once again took her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

She is frequently seen extending Janmashtami greetings. In a post on ‘X’, she wrote, “My best wishes and love to all those celebrating the appearance day of Sri Krishna. Jai Janmashtami.”

In 2014, Gabbard backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to establish International Yoga Day. She also gifted him a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.

She has called the Kashmir issue complex and has spoken out about violence against Hindu temples in Bangladesh.

Hindu-Americans have backed Tulsi Gabbard since the beginning of her political career. In 2015, she married cinematographer Abraham Williams in Hawaii through a Hindu ceremony, conducted with Vedic mantras.

Her father, Mike Gabbard, is a state senator who initially entered politics as a Republican before later joining the Democratic Party.

PM Modi - Tulsi Gabbard meeting: What they discussed

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary.”

The meeting took place just hours after Gabbard was sworn in as the US Director of National Intelligence during a ceremony at the White House.

According to a press release, their discussions focused on strengthening bilateral intelligence cooperation, with an emphasis on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, emerging threats, and strategic intelligence sharing.

They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, reaffirming their commitment to a secure, stable, and rules-based international order.

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PM Modi’s trip to the US

After landing in the US, Modi arrived at Blair House, where he was welcomed by members of the Indian diaspora .

The crowd chanted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Modi Modi” as he greeted them. PM Modi expressed his gratitude for their warm reception.

“A warm reception in the winter chill. Despite the cold weather, the Indian diaspora in Washington DC has welcomed me with a very special welcome. My gratitude to them,” he posted on X.

Upon his arrival, Modi said he looked forward to meeting Donald Trump and strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

“Landed in Washington DC a short while ago. Looking forward to meeting @POTUS Donald Trump and building upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Our nations will keep working closely for the benefit of our people and a better future for our planet,” Modi wrote on X.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that during his visit, PM Modi would meet Trump, members of the US cabinet, and industry leaders.

PM Modi arrived in the US after concluding his three-day visit to France, where he met US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday (local time).

With inputs from agencies