If you’ve spent any time on the corner of the internet where politics and international intrigue collide, you've likely seen the clips. A grainy video from a Moscow newsroom, a pundit smiling broadly, and the name Tulsi Gabbard flashing across the screen in Cyrillic.
It feels like a scene from a spy novel. But in the real world of 2026, where Gabbard now serves as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), these moments aren't just fodder for Twitter arguments. They are part of a massive, complicated debate about what it means to be "pro-Russia" versus "anti-interventionist."
People are confused. Was she actually on the shows? Or was she just the star of their highlight reels? Honestly, the truth is a mix of both, and it’s way more nuanced than a thirty-second soundbite suggests.
The "Our Girlfriend" Moment: Why Russia Loves Tulsi
Let's get the weirdest part out of the way first. In late 2024, as Donald Trump’s transition team began floating names for top intelligence posts, Russian state TV went into overdrive. On 60 Minutes—no, not the CBS one, but the flagship talk show on Rossiya-1—host Olga Skabeyeva and her guests were practically giddy.
One commentator even referred to her as "our girlfriend" (nasha podruga).
That’s a heavy label. To her critics, it was the "smoking gun" that proved she was a Russian asset. To her supporters, it was a classic case of Russian trolls trying to sow discord in American politics by "claiming" a veteran who simply wants to stop "forever wars."
The Russian media didn't just stop at nicknames. They called her "Superwoman." They played her clips from Fox News on a loop. Specifically, they loved her takes on the Ukraine biolabs controversy and her insistence that the U.S. and NATO should have "acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns" before the 2022 invasion.
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When a foreign adversary’s state-run propaganda machine starts cheerleading for your country’s top intelligence official, people are going to have questions. Naturally.
Breaking Down the "Biolabs" Clips
The most frequent Tulsi Gabbard Russian TV appearance isn't actually an interview she gave to a Russian reporter. It’s usually a clip of her own videos or her appearances on American networks that the Kremlin then re-broadcasts to their domestic audience.
Take the 2022 biolab controversy. Gabbard posted a video expressing deep concern about "25+ US-funded biolabs in Ukraine."
- The Russian Spin: State media used this to "verify" their claim that the U.S. was developing bioweapons near their border.
- The Gabbard Defense: She later clarified she was talking about standard public health labs—the kind that study pathogens to prevent outbreaks—and argued that in a war zone, these labs were a liability if they were hit by a missile.
- The Reality: The Pentagon has long funded biological research labs in former Soviet states to secure old Soviet biological materials. It’s a public program. But by not making that distinction clear in her initial viral video, Gabbard gave the Kremlin a massive PR win.
They didn't need to recruit her; they just needed to hit "Record" and "Replay."
Did She Actually Go On Russian TV?
This is where the "expert" takes usually get messy. If you’re looking for a 2025 or 2026 interview where Tulsi sits down with Vladimir Solovyov, you won't find it.
Gabbard has been very careful to avoid direct interviews with Russian state-controlled outlets like RT (formerly Russia Today) in recent years. She knows the optics are radioactive. However, the perception that she is a frequent guest persists because RIA Novosti and other outlets treat her like a folk hero.
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During her 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas asked her point-blank if she’d give Russia a "pass." Her response was famously sharp: "Senator, I’m offended by the question."
She argued that she doesn't even pay attention to Russian propaganda. For Tulsi, the issue isn't whether Russia likes her—it’s whether American foreign policy is, in her view, "stupid and costly."
The DNI Era: 2025 and 2026
Now that she’s the one overseeing the 18 agencies that comprise the U.S. Intelligence Community, the stakes have shifted from "political gossip" to "national security."
In the first half of 2026, the DNI's office has been under a microscope. Critics point to her past comments about the "Russia Hoax"—her belief that the 2016 election interference was overblown—as a sign that she might suppress intelligence that paints Moscow in a bad light.
But there’s a flip side. Some intelligence veterans, like former CIA analyst Michael DiMino, have argued that Gabbard’s skepticism is actually a healthy check on a system that has, at times, overreached.
She has been moving to declassify files at a record pace. The RFK assassination files? Released. A renewed look at the origins of various global conflicts? Ongoing.
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The paradox of Tulsi Gabbard is that while Russian TV uses her to tell their people "See? Even the Americans agree with us," she is telling her supporters, "I’m just telling the truth that the Deep State wants to hide."
Why This Still Matters for SEO and Truth
If you’re searching for "Tulsi Gabbard Russian TV," you’re likely trying to figure out if she’s a patriot or a plant. The truth is rarely that binary.
The Russian state media's fascination with her is a tactical move. By praising her, they accomplish two things:
- They validate their own narrative to their citizens.
- They trigger a massive internal fight in the U.S. between those who trust her and those who don't.
Gabbard’s "anti-interventionist" stance—which involves meeting with dictators like Bashar al-Assad or questioning the necessity of NATO—will always make her a favorite of those who want to see U.S. global influence pull back.
Actionable Insights for the Skeptical Reader
Understanding this controversy requires looking past the headlines. Here is how you can navigate the noise:
- Watch the Source: When you see a "Tulsi on Russian TV" headline, look to see if it’s a direct interview or just a clip of her being discussed by Russian pundits. There is a massive difference between the two.
- Check the Timeline: Many of the most controversial quotes are from 2022, right at the start of the Ukraine war. Compare those to her more recent statements as DNI to see if her posture has shifted now that she has access to "the crown jewels" of U.S. intelligence.
- Follow the Declassification: If you want to see where her true loyalties lie, watch what she chooses to declassify. Is she only releasing info that hurts her domestic political rivals, or is she being transparent across the board?
- Read the Transcripts: Don't rely on 10-second clips on X (formerly Twitter). Read her full statements on "neutrality" and "security concerns" to understand the geopolitical logic she is using, whether you agree with it or not.
The Tulsi Gabbard Russian TV saga isn't going away. As long as she holds the keys to the nation's secrets, Moscow will keep watching her—and the rest of the world will keep watching Moscow.
To stay truly informed, you have to look at the "why" behind the praise. Sometimes, being an enemy's "favorite" is a sign of alignment; other times, it's just a clever way for that enemy to make you fight with your neighbors. In Gabbard's case, the jury of public opinion is still very much out.