The Real Story Behind Tulsi Gabbard Foreign Policy Guidance Memos And The Maga Blowup

The Real Story Behind Tulsi Gabbard Foreign Policy Guidance Memos And The Maga Blowup

The political world loves a public knife fight, and the latest one features two of the most volatile figures in the MAGA universe. Firebrand activist Laura Loomer just took a massive swing at the Trump administration, declaring it in a state of absolute crisis.

The trigger? A massive, 25,000-page leak detailing how former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard allegedly took direct, granular policy instructions from her childhood spiritual guru. If you enjoyed this piece, you should check out: this related article.

Loomer didn't hold back. She immediately used the revelation to frame the White House as a chaotic mess, highlighting the deep structural fractures within the current political ecosystem. But if you just read the superficial headlines, you're missing the real story. This isn't just a petty spat between online influencers. It's a fundamental battle over who actually controls American foreign policy and national security.

What Was Hidden Inside the 25,000 Page Leak

The controversy stems from an extensive cache of internal documents leaked by Rebecca Saltzburg, a former member of the Science of Identity Foundation and an ex-staffer on Gabbard’s past congressional campaigns. These aren't vague spiritual meditations. They are concrete, highly specific policy memos, television scripts, and legislative strategy guides. For another angle on this event, see the latest update from Associated Press.

According to data first published by The Washington Post, the memos originated from email domains directly controlled by Chris Butler. Butler is the reclusive leader of the Hawaii-based Science of Identity Foundation, a group Gabbard grew up in and has previously acknowledged as her spiritual mentor.

🔗 Read more: this story

The documents show a staggering level of daily operational control. When Gabbard served in Congress, the memos didn't just suggest broad ideas—they gave her exact talking points for television appearances and dictated her legislative stances.

The Syria Connection and the Anti War Stance

The most explosive details within the leaked files center on American foreign policy in the Middle East. A specific memo from August 2016 provided Gabbard with tactical advice on how to aggressively oppose US efforts to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

When you compare the wording in these private memos to Gabbard’s subsequent public speeches and congressional statements, the text matches almost word-for-word. The documents even include harsh, performance-review-style critiques from the group when her media performances didn't perfectly align with the script. One file bluntly commanded her to "stop being weak" after a media appearance.

Gabbard has spent years building a reputation as an independent, anti-interventionist maverick who answers to no one. These files completely upend that narrative, suggesting her signature foreign policy positions were closely managed by an insular religious group.

Why Laura Loomer Went on the Attack

The moment these documents hit the public square, Laura Loomer seized the opportunity to launch a scorched-earth campaign against the administration's internal operations. Loomer declared the situation a symptom of a deeper "crisis" within the executive branch.

To understand why Loomer turned on Gabbard so aggressively, you have to look at the timeline of internal MAGA feuds. Earlier this year, top intelligence official Joe Kent resigned in protest over US military decisions regarding Iran. At the time, Loomer publicly predicted that Gabbard would be the next to exit or get fired, alleging a pattern of internal leaks and ideological disloyalty.

Gabbard eventually resigned from her post as Director of National Intelligence on May 22, officially citing her husband's health issues. But the release of these confidential files gave Loomer the exact ammunition she needed to claim vindication. For Loomer and her allies, the memos prove that Gabbard was an unreliable actor who shouldn't have been trusted with high-level national security data in the first place.

The Pushback from the Gabbard Camp

Gabbard’s team hasn't stayed silent under the onslaught of criticism. They've aggressively pushed back against the validity of the narrative, though notably, they haven't disputed the authenticity of the specific leaked emails or memos in detail.

Instead, her defenders are calling the entire leak a coordinated hit piece designed to weaponize Gabbard's personal spiritual beliefs. They argue that the focus on the Science of Identity Foundation is rooted in religious bigotry against her Hindu faith. They maintain that seeking advice from mentors is a standard practice for politicians and shouldn't be treated as a unique national security threat.

The group itself, the Science of Identity Foundation, has consistently denied operating as a cult, describing its teachings as a standard combination of yoga and traditional Vaishnavism.

The National Security Implications

The real issue here goes way beyond online drama between political commentators. The actual concern is how much outside influence is acceptable for a person tasked with overseeing the nation's most sensitive intelligence apparatus.

Before her resignation, national security experts openly questioned whether Gabbard's lifelong ties to Butler compromised her autonomy. Critics in Congress worried that classified information could theoretically find its way back to the group's leadership. While the leaked memos date back to her time in Congress rather than her recent stint as intel chief, they reveal a pattern of behavior that makes institutional Washington incredibly nervous.

When an official relies on an outside, unelected entity for word-for-word policy direction, it raises serious questions about who is actually making decisions behind closed doors.

If you want to track how this story develops, don't waste time watching the public shouting matches on social media. Instead, watch the official congressional committee updates. Look specifically for any moves by the House or Senate Intelligence Committees to probe the depth of these leaks, as that's where the actual political consequences will land.

NW

Nora Wang

A dedicated content strategist and editor, Nora Wang brings clarity and depth to complex topics. Committed to informing readers with accuracy and insight.