Ex-democrat Gabbard's path from surfing Hawaii to Trump's intel pick

The political landscape saw an unusual shift as Tulsi Gabbard - a former Hawaii surfer and combat vet moved from Democratic party star to Donald Trumps choice for director of national intelligence. Her journey shows how quick political views can change in todays world

About two years ago Gabbard left the Democratic party calling it an “elitist group of war-lovers driven by weak wokeness“ (which marked a big change from her earlier views). Her switch happened fast: she backed Joe Biden in 2020 but soon spoke at right-wing CPAC where she attacked Biden-Clinton policies

Her foreign-policy ideas raised some eye-brows. She went to Syria in 2017 and met with leader Assad; talked about US bio-labs in Ukraine‚ and questioned intel about Syrian chemical attacks. Sen Tammy Duckworth said on CNN: “There are questions about whether or not she is now a Russian asset“

Growing up in Hawaii Gabbard was home-schooled and kept away from outside stuff. By her early-20s she:
* Got elected to state office as youngest woman ever
* Joined Hawaii National Guard
* Did combat tour in Iraq
* Started surfing career

Her past ties to Science of Identity Foundation (a Hindu-based group) got peoples attention. While she called it a “good spiritual practice“ others saw it different. Her aunt told media in 2022 that this group pushed Gabbards move to the right

The thought of her running US intel makes some folks nervous. She backed Snowden and Assange - who leaked lots of secret info. “Its that persons view that shapes intel flow“ said Emily Harding from a DC think-tank. Critics point out she has no intel work background; but Trump team says past intel experts got things wrong like Iraq WMDs