Row over Tulsi Gabbard’s past link to Indian-American lawyer who said ‘kick Trump’ in viral video: 'She is Hindu after all'

A fresh row has erupted over Tulsi Gabbard’s past alleged association with the ITServe Alliance,a platform of IT companies in the US, which is accused of visa lobbying and reportedly replacing Americans with H1-B workers.

The same association is linked to an Indian-American immigration lawyer who went viral last month for making aggressive remarks about US President Donald Trump.




Gabbard is serving in one of the highest posts in the Trump administration, the rank of Director of National Intelligence.

The controversy was sparked by American investigative journalist Amanda Louise, who pointed out that Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as DNI, had previously appeared at an ITServe Alliance in 2017.

ITServe Alliance is an organization known for its involvement in visa and immigration policy discussions, particularly around skilled foreign labor. At the event, Gabbard was seen sharing the stage with ITServe leadership.

Years later, Murthy came under fire after a video of her remarks at an ITServe event in Seattle went viral. In the clip, Murthy criticised Trump’s immigration policies and used inflammatory language, telling the audience to “kick the butt of Donald Trump… kick his a**… really… twice.” The comments were met with applause from the crowd.

Murthy also mocked Trump’s personal life, pointing out that two of his wives were immigrants, and questioned his authority, saying, “The president is not God” and does not make the laws.

These comments triggered backlash from MAGA base and GOP leaders, who accused Murthy of open hostility toward the President.

Amanda Louise linked this episode back to Gabbard, calling it “not a great look” given Gabbard’s current role in Trump’s administration.

Adding another layer to the debate is Gabbard’s long-discussed relationship with India and Hinduism. In a 2017 interview with TV5 News, a Telugu news channel, Gabbard spoke at length about US–India cooperation and economic partnership. During the interview, she also discussed her personal faith, explaining how she became a practicing Hindu and took her oath of office with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita. She talked about how both Americans and Indian Americans are beneficial for the overall development of both partners.

Earlier this month, Tulsi also faced backlash after her delayed reaction on US military raiding Venezuela and capturing their leader Nicolas Maduro. A few years back, Gabbard had also claimed publicly that the US must not interfere in other countries affairs and inavding them should not be a viable option. Gabbard is a veteran of the Iraq war herself.