Prayers before the State of the Union raised questions about Tulsi Gabbard’s faith after British journalist Mehdi Hassan questioned a Trump aide’s religious beliefs.Hassan wrote on X, “I’m confused. Did Gabbard convert to Christianity? I thought she was a proud Hindu.”The comments come after Gabbard shared a post about participating in “Christian” prayers ahead of the president’s address to Congress this week.“The quiet moments are often the most important,” she wrote. “Last night, just before members of the Cabinet took to the House floor to deliver the President’s State of the Union address, we prayed together to give God all thanks and praise and to ask for clarity and strength to hear His voice, serve Him, and do His will.”The post included a photo showing Gabbard and other Cabinet members gathered together with their heads bowed in prayer shortly before entering the House chamber. The scene appears to be a private room or hallway inside or near the U.S. Capitol used in preparation for the event. This is not a religious place.The prayer comes ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address to the 119th U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The speech lasted approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history. Trump spoke about the economy, immigration, trade and national security and recognized individuals including athletes and military personnel.Gabbard has long been openly Hindu. She was born in Leloaloa, American Samoa on April 12, 1981 and grew up in Hawaii. She later adopted the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She practices Vaishnavism, a branch of Hinduism centered on devotion to Vishnu and his incarnations such as Krishna. In 2013, when she was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, she swore an oath to the Bhagavad Gita, becoming the first Hindu member of the U.S. Congress.She has previously spoken about her faith in interviews and public appearances.
