US Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard Warns Against ‘Islamism’, Calls It Incompatible With American Values

New Delhi: US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has described Islamism as a threat to American values,

arguing that the ideology is incompatible with the foundations of freedom and individual liberty in the United States.

Speaking during a public discussion, Gabbard drew a distinction between Islam as a religion and Islamism as a political ideology. She said her remarks were directed at what she described as a political doctrine, not at the practice of Islam or religious freedom.

Gabbard claimed that in certain parts of the United States, attempts were underway to introduce Islamic principles into legal and political systems, either through legislation or social pressure. Citing specific examples, she referred to the city of Paterson, New Jersey.

“Paterson, New Jersey, prides itself on being the first Muslim city,” Gabbard said. “They are trying to impose these Islamic principles on people through laws or violence.” She added that similar developments were visible in other areas as well.

Earlier this year, during the beginning of Ramadan, Paterson’s mayor had highlighted the city’s large Muslim population and described it as the fourth holiest city in the world, remarks that drew national attention.

Gabbard also referenced Houston, stating that the issue was not a hypothetical future concern but one that was already unfolding within the United States. “This is not something that might happen. It is already happening here within our borders,” she said.

Emphasising the distinction between religious practice and political ideology, Gabbard characterised Islamism as a system that rejects individual liberty. “When we talk about the threat of Islamism, there is no such thing as individual freedom or liberty,” she said. “It is completely incompatible with the foundations of our country.”

She further argued that the American system is rooted in the belief that freedom is inherent and not granted by the state. “When we understand that our freedom comes from God and not from anyone else, we understand the seriousness of the threat posed by this ideology,” Gabbard said.

The remarks have sparked debate online, with supporters viewing them as a warning against political extremism, while critics argue that such statements risk stigmatising Muslim communities.