Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Tulsi Gabbard After Her Oath as National Intelligence Director
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a two-day visit to the United States, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. This is Modi's first American visit under the Trump administration, and it's his second official trip to the U.S. under Trump's leadership. Within hours of the start of the trip, Prime Minister Modi met with the U.S. National Intelligence Director (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard. They exchanged greetings regarding the strengthening of relations between the two countries and congratulated Gabbard on her confirmation as the new DNI.
There is a misconception about Tulsi Gabbard's background, with many believing she is of Indian descent. However, Gabbard is not of Indian ancestry. She was born in American Samoa and grew up in Hawaii. Her mother converted to Hinduism and named her children with Hindu names, which led to confusion regarding her Indian heritage.
Tulsi Gabbard was first elected to the U.S. Congress, and she took her oath of office as a practicing Hindu. In 2012, she took her oath using the Bhagavad Gita, and she repeated the same during her 2017 re-election.
Gabbard has frequently mentioned her respect for Indian culture and connections, notably supporting Prime Minister Modi’s International Yoga Day initiative in 2014 and gifting him a Bhagavad Gita. She has also commented on Kashmir and spoken out against violence targeting Hindu temples in Bangladesh.
During Modi’s visit, the two leaders discussed India-U.S. intelligence cooperation, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other international matters. Modi congratulated Gabbard on her confirmation as DNI and emphasized strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
During the visit, Modi will meet with President Trump, U.S. cabinet members, and industry leaders, expressing his intention to work jointly to create a better future for India.
