Tulsi Gabbard: Difference between revisions

| status = Presumptive Nominee

After her departure from the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in January 2021,<ref name =NYT2020/> Gabbard took more [[Conservatism|conservative]] positions on issues such as abortion, foreign policy, [[LGBTLGBTQ rights in the United States|LGBTLGBTQ rights]], and border security.<ref name="Palmeri" /><ref>Multiple sources:

On October 25, 2019, Gabbard announced that she would not seek reelection to the House in 2020, citing her presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last=Elfrink |first=Tim |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Tulsi Gabbard won't run for reelection to Congress as she seeks Democratic presidential nomination |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/25/tulsi-gabbard-congress-drops-bid/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 24, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Gabbard |first=Tulsi |user=TulsiGabbard |number=1187580455731654657 |date=October 25, 2019 |title=I'm fully committed to my offer... }}</ref> Hawaii State Senator [[Kai Kahele]] had been challenging her for the congressional seat. Kahele and the co-chair of his campaign, former Hawaii governor [[Neil Abercrombie]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Cocke |first=Sophie |date=December 23, 2019 |title=Neil Abercrombie calls on Tulsi Gabbard to resign from Congress |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/12/23/breaking-news/neil-abercrombie-calls-on-tulsi-gabbard-to-resign-from-congress/ |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |access-date=December 25, 2019 }}</ref> criticized her for missing votes while campaigning for president—especiallypresident — especially the vote on Syria; however, her absences were similar to other members of Congress running for president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cocke |first=Sophie |date=October 16, 2019 |title=State Sen. Kai Kahele criticizes Tulsi Gabbard for missing House vote on Syria |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/10/16/hawaii-news/kai-kahele-calls-out-tulsi-gabbard-for-missing-vote-on-syria/ |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |access-date=October 24, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|title=Former Hawaii Democratic governor calls on Gabbard to resign|date=December 23, 2019|first=Cristina|last=Marcos|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/475777-former-hawaii-democratic-governor-calls-on-gabbard-to-resign}}</ref>

On March 3, 2020, Gabbard, who is of Samoan descent, earned two delegates in American Samoa,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Touchberry|first=Ramsey|date=March 9, 2020|title=Tulsi Gabbard, with only two delegates, isn't the first candidate to stay in the race this long|url=https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-only-two-delegates-isnt-first-candidate-stay-race-this-long-1491334|access-date=February 5, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> making her the second woman of color (after [[Shirley Chisholm]]) and the first Asian-American and Pacific-Islander presidential candidate to earn primary delegates.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Peterson|first=Beatrice|title=Why Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is continuing her bid for president|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hawaii-rep-tulsi-gabbard-continuing-bid-president/story?id=69412140|access-date=February 5, 2021|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> She was also the only non-white Democratic party candidate to earn delegates in the 2020 election cycle.<ref name="Fung-2020">{{Cite web|last=Fung|first=Katherine|date=August 21, 2020|title=Tulsi Gabbard, the only non-white Dem candidate with primary delegates, confirms she was not invited to DNC|url=https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-only-non-white-dem-candidate-primary-delegates-confirms-she-was-not-invited-dnc-1526776|access-date=February 5, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2020, Gabbard filed paperwork with the FEC to change her presidential campaign committee, Tulsi Now, into Tulsi Aloha, a [[leadership PAC]], as well as a legal expense trust fund to pay off debts from the lawsuit against Clinton.<ref name="Newhauser-2020" /> Later that same month, she weighed intoin to the public disagreement surrounding the [[Netflix]] film ''[[Cuties]]'', alleging that Netflix was "complicit" in "help[ing] fuel the [[child sex trafficking]] trade".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Cole|first=Brendan|date=September 12, 2020|title=Democrat Tulsi Gabbard says Netflix is complicit in child sex trafficking for "child porn" film "Cuties"|url=https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-netflix-cuties-child-trafficking-1531474|access-date=February 13, 2021|magazine=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref> In December 2020, Gabbard endorsed and her Tulsi Aloha PAC donated $2,800 to [[Nina Turner]] for the [[2021 Ohio's 11th congressional district special election|2021 special election for Ohio's 11th congressional district]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eaton|first=Sabrina|date=February 1, 2021|title=Nina Turner takes big fundraising lead in congressional race to succeed Marcia Fudge; her donors include actress Susan Sarandon and entrepreneur Andrew Yang|url=https://cleveland.com/open/2021/02/nina-turner-takes-big-fundraising-lead-in-congressional-race-to-succeed-marcia-fudge-her-donors-include-actress-susan-sarandon-and-entrepreneur-andrew-yang.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=Cleveland/The Plain Dealer}}</ref>

On August 26, Gabbard endorsed former President Trump's [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|re-election bid]], during a [[National Guard Association of the United States|National Guard Association]] gathering in [[Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spady |first=Aubrie |title=Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump in the 2024 presidential race|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-democrat-tulsi-gabbard-endorses-trump-2024-presidential-race |access-date=August 26, 2024 |website=Fox News|date=August 26, 2024 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yurow |first=Jeremy |title=Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump: Why the former Hawaii Democrat is backing him |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/26/tulsi-gabbard-endorses-trump-president/74957591007/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref> The next day, Gabbard was named as an honorary co-chair of Donald Trump's presidential transition team, alongside [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], joining the former president's sons and the Republican vice presidential nominee [[JD Vance]].<ref name="Transition_Team">{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Swan |first2=Jonathan |last3=O’Brien |first3=Rebecca Davis |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Trump to Put Kennedy and Gabbard on His Transition Team |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/us/politics/trump-transition-rfk-tulsi-gabbard.html |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singman |first=Brooke |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Trump adds RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team as he recruits supporters 'across partisan lines' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-adds-rfk-jr-tulsi-gabbard-his-transition-team-he-recruits-supporters-across-partisan-lines |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> Gabbard announced she was joining the Republican Party on October 22 during a Trump rally atin [[Greensboro, North Carolina]].<ref name=GOP2024/>

The nomination received a negative reception from several political analysts and intelligence community members, while some Republican Senate and conservative commentators also expressed unease.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Katie |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Gaetz, Gabbard and Hegseth: Trump’s Picks Are a Show of Force |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/gaetz-gabbard-hegseth-trump-appointees.html |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> She received significant criticism for her lack of experience, her comparably friendly positions on Russia, China, Syria, and Iran;, as well asand general anti-NATO leanings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Tom |date=2024-11-14 |title=Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination Is a National-Security Risk |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/11/tulsi-gabbard-nomination-security/680649/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> Tom Rogan, the foreign policy editor for the conservative news outlet [[Washington Examiner]], wrote in an op-ed, "If you thought about the worst possible choice for director of National Intelligence, former Democratic-turned-Republican Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard would be high up there."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogan |first=Tom |date=2024-11-13 |title=Senate GOP must stop Tulsi Gabbard from getting keys to intelligence castle - Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/3229135/senate-gop-must-stop-tulsi-gabbard-from-getting-keys-to-intelligence-castle/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gabbard has generally called for reducing military [[Interventionism (politics)|interventionism]] by the United States,<ref name="sfchronicle.com"/> though she has supported strong action on terrorism, especially against [[Islamic terrorism|Islamic terrorist]] organizations such as [[Al Qaeda]], [[Islamic State|ISIS]] and [[Hamas]].<ref name="hawaiitribune-herald.com"/><ref name="WE2023">{{cite web |first=Eden |last=Villalovas |title=Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard calls out Biden and Harris for not attending March for Israel rally in DC | website=[[The Washington Examiner]] | date=November 14, 2023 | url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2452313/former-rep-tulsi-gabbard-calls-out-biden-and-harris-for-not-attending-march-for-israel-rally-in-dc/ | access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>

During her time in Congress, Gabbard took a strong stand against [[Islamic terrorism]] in the Middle East, often reminding aboutinvoking her experience as a veteran of the [[Iraq warWar]].<ref name="Fox News-2015" /> In some of her appearances on [[Fox News]] between 2013 and 2017, she faulted President Obama over his refusal to refer to the [[Islamic state|Islamic State]]’s beliefs and terrorism as "[[Islamic extremism]]" or "radical Islam".<ref name="Fox News-2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/nov/21/looking-back-tulsi-gabbards-fox-news-presence-obam/|title=Looking back: Tulsi Gabbard's Fox News presence in the Obama years|date=February 28, 2015|website=[[PolitiFact]]|first=Bill|last=McCarthy|access-date=March 3, 2020|quote="Gabbard ramped up her appearances in 2015, going on Fox News several times to blast Obama over his refusal to refer to the Islamic State’s beliefs and terrorism as "Islamic extremism" or "radical Islam."}}</ref><ref name="Vox-Obama">{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/16/18182114/tulsi-gabbard-2020-president-campaign-policies|title=Tulsi Gabbard, the controversial, long-shot Democratic 2020 candidate, explained|date=June 26, 2019|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|access-date=March 3, 2020|first=Zack|last=Beauchamp|quote="She joined Republicans in demanding that President Obama use the term “radical Islam.”"}}</ref> In a 2015 interview with [[CNN]]'s Wolf Blitzer, Gabbard criticized the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] for "refusing" to say that the "real enemy" of the United States is Islamic extremists.<ref name="CNN-Obama"/>

On January 18, 2017, Gabbard went on a one-week "fact-finding mission" to [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]], during which Gabbard met various political and religious leaders from Syria and Lebanon—asLebanon — as well as regular citizens from both sides of the [[Syrian Civil War|thecivil war]]—and — and also had two unplanned meetings with Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tulsi-gabbard-claims-met-syrian-president-bashar-al/story?id=45050615|title=Tulsi Gabbard Claims to Have Met With Syrian President Bashar al-Assad|first=Maryalice|last=Parks|work=ABC News|date=January 26, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/25/politics/tulsi-gabbard-lead-syria/index.html|title=Gabbard says she met with Assad on Syria trip|first=Julia|last=Manchester|work=[[CNN]]|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-returns-syria-renewed-calls-end-regime-change-war|title=Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Returns From Syria with Renewed Calls: End Regime Change War in Syria Now|first=Tulsi|last=Gabbard|work=Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319192631/https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-returns-syria-renewed-calls-end-regime-change-war|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34462021/on-syria-trip-gabbard-met-with-syrian-president-twice|title=Gabbard met with Syrian president twice on recent trip|date=February 8, 2017|website=[[Hawaii News Now]]|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> In April 2017, Gabbard expressed skepticism about claims that Assad used chemical weapons against civilians in [[Khan Shaykhun chemical attack|Khan Shaykhun]], and which were followed by a [[2017 Shayrat missile strike|military attack against Syria]] by the United States. Gabbard said, "a successful prosecution of Assad (at the [[International Criminal Court]]) w[ould] require collection of evidence from the scene of the incident", and that she "support[ed] the United Nations' efforts in this regard".<ref name="Greenwood" /><ref name="Viebeck-2017" /><ref name="Nation 2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/democrats-shouldnt-be-trying-to-banish-tulsi-gabbard/|title=Democrats Shouldn't Be Trying to Banish Tulsi Gabbard|work=The Nation|access-date=December 1, 2019|issn=0027-8378|quote=A successful prosecution of Assad (at the International Criminal Court) will require collection of evidence from the scene of the incident, and I support the United Nation's efforts in this regard. Without such evidence, a successful prosecution is impossible.|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229225236/https://www.thenation.com/article/democrats-shouldnt-be-trying-to-banish-tulsi-gabbard/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="guardian_2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/18/tulsi-gabbard-2020-progressive-steve-bannon-right|title=Who is Tulsi Gabbard? The progressive 2020 hopeful praised by Bannon and the right|last=McCarthy|first=Tom|date=May 13, 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref> In a 2018 interview with ''[[The Nation (magazine)|The Nation]]'', Gabbard said the United States had "been waging a [[CIA activities in Syria|regime change war in Syria]] since 2011".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/tulsi-gabbard-on-the-administrations-push-for-war-in-syria/|title=Tulsi Gabbard on the Administration's Push for War in Syria|last=Carden|first=James|date=September 20, 2018|work=[[The Nation]]|access-date=February 3, 2019|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111085938/https://www.thenation.com/article/tulsi-gabbard-on-the-administrations-push-for-war-in-syria/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her stand on [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] led to disagreement with mainstream Democrats.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hohmann|first=James|date=January 26, 2017|title=The Daily 202: Is President Trump surrendering America's moral high ground?|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/01/26/daily-202-is-president-trump-surrendering-america-s-moral-high-ground/588967e9e9b69b432bc7e08e|url-status=live|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015710/https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?next_url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fnews%2fpowerpost%2fpaloma%2fdaily-202%2f2017%2f01%2f26%2fdaily-202-is-president-trump-surrendering-america-s-moral-high-ground%2f588967e9e9b69b432bc7e08e%2f|archive-date=November 12, 2020|quote=Leading establishment Democrats also expressed disgust: ... Peter Daou, ... Neera Tanden, ... Brandon Friedman}}</ref> After getting scrutiny for her views on Assad, Gabbard called [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] "a brutal dictator just like [[Saddam Hussein]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/politics/tulsi-gabbard-assad-dictator-cnntv/index.html|title=Tulsi Gabbard: Bashar Assad is 'a brutal dictator'|first=Paul|last=LeBlanc|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>

After [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel]], Gabbard came out strongly in support of Israel and condemned Hamas, calling it an [[Islamism|Islamist]] terrorist organization.<ref name="Hill2023">{{cite web |title=Tulsi Gabbard attacked over Hamas condemnation | website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | date=November 3, 2023 | url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/4291944-rising-november-3-2023/ | access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref> In November 2023, she attended the [[March for Israel]] at the [[National Mall]] in Washington, D.C.<ref name="WE2023"/>

Gabbard has often expressed her support for the [[Armenians|Armenian]] [[Christians|Christian]] population<ref name =Armenia2019>{{cite news |title=Tulsi Gabbard: Turkey, which denies genocide, has no fear of committing it again |url=https://en.armradio.am/2019/11/01/tulsi-gabbard-turkey-which-denies-genocide-has-no-fear-of-committing-it-again/ |work=Public Radio of Armenia |date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> in the conflict with [[Azerbaijan]].<ref name="ArmWeek"/> In 2017, Gabbard was part of a team of US lawmakers that visited [[Armenia]], including the disputed, breakaway region of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]], which is also claimed by [[Azerbaijan]]; andshe thuswas facedthus criticismblacklisted by Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Azerbaijan Blacklists Three U.S. Lawmakers For Visiting Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-blacklists-three-us-lawmakers-visiting-nagorno-karabakh/28752231.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=September 23, 2017}}</ref> Later, she accused [[Turkey]] of encouraging and inciting [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]] between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, and co-signed a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] expressing concern over Azerbaijan's renewed aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and possible conflict with Armenia.<ref name="ArmWeek">{{cite news |title=Senate and House Leaders to Secretary of State Pompeo: Cut Military Aid to Azerbaijan; Sanction Turkey for Ongoing Attacks Against Armenia and Artsakh |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2020/10/02/senate-and-house-leaders-to-secretary-of-state-pompeo-cut-military-aid-to-azerbaijan-sanction-turkey-for-ongoing-attacks-against-armenia-and-artsakh/ |work=The Armenian Weekly |date=October 2, 2020}}</ref> Gabbard stated:<blockquote>The United States must urge Azerbaijan to immediately end their attacks, and Turkey to cease its involvement both directly through the use of its armed forces, and indirectly by sending Al-Qaeda associated proxies to wipe out Nagorno-Karabakh's [[Armenians|Armenian]] population —a— a tactic Turkey used against [[Kurds in Syria|Syrian Kurds]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tulsi Gabbard: Azerbaijan's and Turkey's attack on Nagorno-Karabakh threatens to bring NATO into conflict with Russia |url=https://news.am/eng/news/605335.html |work=NEWS.am |date=October 1, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

===LGBTLGBTQ rights===

On December 10, 2020, Gabbard and Republican U.S. Representative [[Markwayne Mullin]] introduced a bill titled the "Protect Women's Sports Act" that would seek to define [[Title IX]] protections on the basis of an individual's [[biological sex]], making it a violation for institutions that receive federal funding to "permit a person whose biological sex at birth is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls". If passed, this bill would effectively ban many [[transgender]] athletes from participating in programs corresponding with their gender identity.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2020/12/11/tulsi-gabbard-new-bill-title-ix-trans-athletes-rights|title=Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Bill to Apply Title IX Protections Based Only on Biological Sex|first=Nick|last=Shelbe|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=December 11, 2020|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsi-gabbard-anti-transgender-bill-title-ix_n_5fd2de33c5b66a75841389b5|title=Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Anti-Transgender Bill After Claiming To Be LGBTQ-Friendly|first=Dominique|last=Mosbergen|work=Huffington Post|date=December 10, 2020|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-and-mullin-introduce-bill-ensure-title-ix-protections-women-and|title=Reps. Gabbard and Mullin Introduce Bill to Ensure Title IX Protections for Women and Girls in Sports|date=December 10, 2020|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211224546/https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-gabbard-and-mullin-introduce-bill-ensure-title-ix-protections-women-and|url-status=dead}}</ref> After introducing the bill, Gabbard was condemned by activists and LGBTLGBTQ organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, which said: "Gabbard has lost all credibility as an ally."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/529811-rep-tulsi-gabbard-sponsors-anti-transgender-bill|title=Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sponsors anti-transgender bill after claiming to be pro-LGBTQ|first=Anagha|last=Srikanth|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=December 11, 2020|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>