President Donald Trump's outgoing Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is stepping down from his cabinet to care for her husband, who is battling cancer. Gabbard's spouse, Abraham Williams, 37, has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. She cited his illness in a resignation letter delivered to Trump on Friday, and she will officially depart her role on June 30.
Fourth Cabinet Resignation in Three Months
Gabbard, 45, becomes the fourth member of Trump's Cabinet to resign in the past three months, following Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. This marks an extraordinary attrition rate among the women serving under the President. Her departure follows months of growing friction over Trump's decision to launch a war against Iran.
Trump's Response
Trump called her departure 'unfortunate' as she had done a 'great job' and sent his well wishes to Williams, expressing confidence that he would be restored to 'good health.'
Abraham Williams: A Low-Profile Spouse
Williams has largely stayed out of the political spotlight, spending most of his time at their shared home in Texas. He works as a camera operator and cinematographer, with four IMDB credits to his name. The couple has sparked intrigue over their ties to what some describe as an 'alt-right' cult offshoot of the Hindu Hare Krishna movement.
How They Met
Gabbard's first marriage was to Eduardo Tamayo, whom she wed in 2002 and divorced in 2006. She met Williams in 2012 while he was volunteering on her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, where she successfully served four terms as a Democrat. Williams, part-Māori and part-Samoan from Auckland, New Zealand, worked as a freelance photographer, capturing images and commercials for her campaign. His mother, Anya Anthony, managed Gabbard's district office in Honolulu. A year and a half later, they reconnected at a mutual friend's birthday party, where Williams asked her out. They bonded over water sports and their shared Hindu faith. Williams proposed while they were surfing together, and they married in 2015 in a traditional Hindu Vedic ceremony on the shore of Kahaluu, Hawaii.
Age and Family
At 37, Williams is eight years younger than Gabbard. They have no children together, nor from previous relationships. The couple underwent several in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while struggling to conceive. Gabbard opened up about the process on Meghan McCain's podcast, saying, 'As hard as this was for me, it was extremely hard for Abraham to just watch this heartbreak over and over again.'
Career and Hobbies
Williams works as a cinematographer and camera operator, with credits on lower-budget films such as Decade of the Dead (2023), Angel by Thursday (2021), Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki (2019), and Go For Broke (2018). He also works on independent projects, commercials, and music videos, often trailing Gabbard with a camera to produce adverts and social media content. His website states he works across 'diverse and challenging environments, from cities across America to warzones in the Middle East.' Beyond filmmaking, he is a surfer, plays multiple musical instruments, is a sharpshooter, and enjoys high-intensity workouts. He has competed in The Tactical Games, describing the experience as 'as hard and rewarding as I thought it would be.'
Religious and Cult Ties
Both Gabbard and Williams are Hindu. Gabbard began practicing in her teens, following her mother's conversion, and made history as the first practicing Hindu elected to Congress. The couple is believed to belong to the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), an offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement. Critics describe SIF as a secretive cult with intolerant views toward women, gay people, and Muslims, seeking political influence. Its reclusive leader, Chris Butler, is treated as an all-powerful deity by followers. Gabbard has called Butler a 'guru' and his message positive, but former members claim it is a cult. Her aunt, Dr. Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard, has accused her niece's career of being driven by a pursuit of power, stating that her 2020 presidential bid was the culmination of Butler's decades-long effort to gain political influence.
