Political positions of Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard has made foreign policy the cornerstone of her political identity, adopting positions that have placed her increasingly at odds with prevailing consensus among national security experts. Despite her military service background, Gabbard has advocated for a significantly reduced U.S. international presence that critics have characterized as approaching isolationism—a stance that has raised concerns about potentially diminishing America's global leadership role.

In rhetoric that often diverges from mainstream foreign policy views, Gabbard has frequently questioned American interventionism abroad, using terminology such as "regime change wars" to describe operations supported by both Republican and Democratic administrations. This stance has drawn criticism from foreign policy professionals who argue that such withdrawal-focused policies could create dangerous power vacuums and embolden adversarial regimes. While Gabbard has maintained a position against ISIS and other terrorist organizations in the Middle East, her broader approach to international engagement and critique of humanitarian interventions has generated controversy within both parties.

After departing from the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard has shifted her position on many issues closer to the Republican party, including abortion; environmental policy, gun control and the participation of trans women in women's sports. Gabbard expressed support for Florida House Bill 1557, referred to by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill (not the official bill name) and in 2022 was a featured speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). She has frequently criticized policies of the Biden administration.

Gabbard's engagement with certain authoritarian regimes has generated significant controversy within U.S. foreign policy circles. Her January 2017 trip to Syria, during which she met with President Bashar al-Assad, drew widespread criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Critics argued that her meeting provided legitimacy to a leader accused of war crimes and human rights abuses against the Syrian people. The trip was reportedly financed by members of a Lebanese socialist-nationalist party with close ties to the Assad regime.

Gabbard has also faced scrutiny for positions perceived as sympathetic to Russian interests. In February 2022, at the outset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she suggested the conflict "could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns" regarding Ukraine's potential NATO membership. Foreign policy experts have criticized such statements as echoing Russian propaganda narratives. Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, characterized her views on Russia and Putin as following "basically the Russian playbook" and described such thinking as "dangerous" for someone in a position of authority.

In 2022, Gabbard made controversial statements about U.S.-funded biological research facilities in Ukraine that closely mirrored narratives promoted by Russian state media, leading to accusations that she was amplifying Russian disinformation. She later made it clear that they were not bioweapons facilities. Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned whether someone with Gabbard's views should "have all of the secrets of the United States and our defense intelligence agencies when she has so clearly been in Putin's pocket." These positions have continued to generate debate about Gabbard's approach to foreign policy and her perspectives on Russia–United States relations.

In 2024, Gabbard joined the Republican Party and endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 United States presidential election.