Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, who was also the first Hindu to be elected to the US Congress, wished “Happy Diwali.” Amid the H-1B visa chaos and the tariff issue, US President Donald Trump lit up the lamps at the White House on the occasion of Diwali. Joining President Trump at the event, Gabbard said , “You are doing today what you have done throughout your time and service is bringing people together from all across the country and all different backgrounds.”” And this day is, of course, very special to so many of us, because while it is the celebration of hope and light and renewal, we can never forget that the source of that hope, light and renewal comes from God’s love for every single one of us. And so today, we celebrate God, his love and the blessings that he has shared with all of us. Fantastic. Thank you,” she added.
Is MAGA unhappy with Gabbard’s Diwali comment?
Members of the far-right political community in the United States, specifically those affiliated with the MAGA camp, did not mince their words while making hate comments about the Diwali festival. The comments section under a related social media post revealed a troubling and bigoted pattern. Remarks such as “Not My GOD!” accompanied by middle finger emoticons dominated the conversation. Several individuals urged the poster to stop sharing similar content, while others expressed their “disgust” towards the festival.One user went as far as telling the individual to “Get out of my country.” Despite the negative comments, positive messages wishing a Happy Diwali were also present. However, another commenter declared, “Diwali is un-American. Move to India.”
Who is Tulsi Gabbard?
Gabbard was born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii. Her political career began at 21 in Hawaii’s House of Representatives, interrupted by her National Guard deployment to Iraq. As the first Hindu member of the House, she took her oath on the “Bhagavad Gita”. She also holds the distinction of being the first American Samoan in Congress. During her four terms, she notably challenged her party’s leadership. Her early backing of senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign elevated her national profile amongst progressives.Her family includes her spouse, cinematographer Abraham Williams, and her father, Mike Gabbard, a state senator who transitioned from Republican to Democrat.
What led Gabbard to became Hindu?
Tulsi Gabbard’s mother Carol Porter Gabbard was raised in a multicultural household and became interested in Hinduism. All her children have Hindu names — Bhakti, Jai, Aryan, Tulsi and Vrindavan. Tulsi also follows Hinduism.Gabbard has deeply integrated Hindu traditions into her personal and professional life since her teenage years. She feels a profound connection with the Bhagavad Gita, drawing inspiration from its teachings on selfless duty (karma yoga) and devotion (bhakti yoga). Gabbard has often spoken about how the Bhagavad Gita has shaped her values and actions. In 2016, she served as the keynote speaker at ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Washington. The event commemorated the establishment of ISKCON in 1965 and the arrival of Srila Prabhupada in the United States.
