A pre-State of the Union prayer has raised questions about Tulsi Gabbard’s faith after British journalist Mehdi Hasan questioned the Trump aide on her religion.Hasan wrote on X, “I’m confused. Did Gabbard convert to Christianity? I thought she was a proud Hindu.”The comment came after Gabbard shared a post about taking part in a ‘Christian’ prayer before the President’s speech to Congress this week.
She wrote: “The quiet moments are often the most important. Last night just before Cabinet members walked onto the House floor for the President’s State of the Union, we joined together in prayer, giving all thanks and praise to God, and praying for the clarity and strength to listen to Him, serve Him, and do His will.” The post included a photograph showing Gabbard and other Cabinet members gathered with heads bowed in prayer shortly before entering the House chamber. The setting appeared to be a private room or hallway inside or near the US Capitol, used for preparation ahead of the event. It was not a religious venue.The prayer took place before US President Donald Trump delivered the 2026 State of the Union Address to a joint session of the 119th US Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The speech lasted about one hour and 48 minutes, making it the longest State of the Union address in US history. Trump addressed the economy, immigration, trade and national security, and recognised several individuals, including athletes and military personnel.Gabbard has long publicly identified as Hindu. She was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa, and raised in Hawaii. She later adopted the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She practices Vaishnavism, a branch of Hinduism centred on devotion to Vishnu and his avatars such as Krishna. In 2013, when she was sworn into the US House of Representatives, she took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita, becoming the first Hindu member of the United States Congress.She has previously spoken about her faith in interviews and public appearances.
