'Impressed...': FM Nirmala Sitharaman Congratulates Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's Pick For US Intel Chief

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman extended greetings to Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu American chosen by US President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the Director of National Intelligence in his administration.

Extending good wishes to Gabbard (43), Nirmala Sitharaman hailed her 21 years of service to the US Army.

Taking to X, Sitharaman wrote, "Congratulations @TulsiGabbard on being selected to serve as Director of National Intelligence. For 21 yrs you served the USA as a soldier becoming a Lt. Colonel in Army Reserve(sic)."

The 65-year-old also mentioned that she was impressed by the clarity of Gabbard's thoughts. Sitharaman also shared some pictures from her past interactions with Gabbard.

"In my few interactions with you, have been impressed by the clarity of your thoughts and dedication. Good wishes(sic)," Sitharaman further wrote.

Former Democratic Party leader, Tulsi Gabbard had switched sides from the Democrats to back Donald Trump's reelection. The 43-year-old would in her new role supervise the coordination of the 18 intelligence agencies.

Who is Tulsi Gabbard?

A Hindu American, Tulsi Gabbard has mixed racial heritage, with her father being of Samoan and European ancestry, while her mother was from Indiana. 

Born in Leloaloa in American Samoa on April 12, 1981, she was named Tulsi by her mother, who became interested in Hinduism. The 43-year-old was born to Carol and Mike Gabbard. She was raised in the Brahma Madhwa Gaudiya Sampradaya that her mother adopted after taking to the Krishna movement in the US. She received education from Hawaii Pacific University in Hawaii's Honolulu. 

She began her political innings in 2002 when she was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives at the age of 21, making her the youngest legislator elected in Hawaii's history and the youngest woman ever elected to a US state legislature. A year later, in 2003, she joined the Hawaii Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for a year. She remained a part of Hawaii Army National Guard from 2003 to 2020. Thereafter she joined United States Army Reserve in 2020 and serves it till present date.

She hit headlines in 2019 after launching her 2020 presidential campaign, becoming the first female combat veteran to run for President. However, in March 2020, Gabbard dropped out of the race and endorsed Joe Biden . In 2022, Gabbard left the Democratic Party and identified as an independent.

Gabbard had tied the knot with cinematographer Abraham Williams in a Vedic ceremony in her home state of Hawaii back in 2015. The wedding event was witnessed many US lawmakers and dignitaries from India, including former BJP general secretary Ram Madhav.

Gabbard has also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in 2014 in the US. Gabbard was also looped in to help Trump sharpen his attacks on Kamala Harris during his Presidential debate before elections.