Tulsi Gabbard: An Investigative Deep Dive into Background and Russian Influence Allegations

Director of National Intelligence

Part of a the Trump’s Circle Series

In the summer of 2015, at a clinic near the Syria-Turkey border, three young girls – survivors of a recent airstrike – came face to face with U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Instead of offering comfort, Gabbard asked a startling question: “How do you know it was Bashar al-Assad or Russia that bombed you, and not ISIS?” (Tulsi Gabbard’s history with Russia is even more concerning than you think | The Independent). The interpreter, Syrian activist Mouaz Moustafa, was stunned; ISIS had no air force, making the query absurd. It was a revealing moment that foreshadowed a pattern in Gabbard’s career: a deep skepticism of mainstream narratives and a tendency to echo positions favorable to authoritarian regimes – including those backed by Moscow.

By 2019, Gabbard’s unorthodox views had earned her both devoted followers and fierce critics. Hillary Clinton openly branded her a “favorite of the Russians,” suggesting Gabbard was being “groomed” as a potential t…