Fact Check: Is Tulsi Gabbard considering running for president as a Republican in 2028?

WASHINGTON, DC: Tulsi Gabbard, who currently serves as the US Director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration, has been drawn into a wave of online speculation. A viral post circulating across social media claims that Gabbard is considering a run for the 2028 presidential election. But is this true? Has Gabbard herself actually spoken about a presidential bid? Here’s a closer look at the facts.

Claim: Tulsi Gabbard plans to run in the 2028 presidential race

Tulsi Gabbard, whose recent rumor that President Donald Trump was considering firing her has already been debunked, is now the subject of another claim suggesting she may be planning a 2028 presidential run.

A viral post on X by Joshua Hall states, “Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat and American military hero who has since denounced and disavowed her old party, is reportedly considering running for President as a Republican in 2028.”

The post concludes with two engagement questions directed at X users, “What do YOU think about this news patriots... Would YOU support TULSI FOR PRESIDENT?” It also features a smiling image of Gabbard and frames the discussion as a poll for “patriots,” asking whether users would support her potential candidacy.

Fact Check: No reports show Tulsi Gabbard is planning 2028 presidential run

There is no evidence to support the claim that Tulsi Gabbard is planning to run in the 2028 presidential election.

Searches on Google and other search engines using terms like 'Tulsi Gabbard 2028 presidential run' or 'Will Tulsi Gabbard run for president?' do not show any credible reports. It is confirmed that she continues to serve in her current role as the US Director of National Intelligence.

If she had shown interest in running for president in 2028, it would likely have been reported by major news outlets and discussed on her social media accounts, as well as by other political figures. However, no such statements or discussions have been widely reported.

It is worth noting that in a May 2015 interview with commentator Megyn Kelly, Tulsi Gabbard did not completely rule out the possibility of running for president in the future. She previously ran for president in 2020 and became the first female combat veteran to do so.

During the interview, she said she would “never rule out any opportunity to serve” and explained that her decisions are guided by how she can best serve her country and her values.