Tulsi Gabbard, the prominent politician and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, continues to make headlines—not just for her dedication to public service but for her intriguing personal life. Recently elected as the director of national intelligence by President-elect Donald Trump, Tulsi’s career achievements are matched only by her equally fascinating relationships.
Currently, Gabbard is happily married to freelance cinematographer Abraham Williams. They wed in 2015 in a traditional Vedic Hindu wedding, and nearly a decade later, the two are still going strong. But before Abraham, there was another chapter in Tulsi’s life—her first husband, Eduardo Tamayo.
Much like her commitment to her current marriage, Tulsi was deeply devoted to her first one. After marrying Eduardo, the woman even held on to his last name for years after their separation, perhaps in the hope that things could still work out. But life doesn’t always follow the script we imagine, and eventually, Tulsi had to let go.
So, who is Eduardo Tamayo? And what led to the collapse of their marriage?
Tulsi Gabbard’s First Husband Eduardo Tamayo
Did you know that Gabbard’s first love was someone she had known since childhood? That man was Eduardo Tamayo, a businessman and the person who shared some of the most defining years of her life. Tulsi was just 21 years old when she walked down the aisle in 2002 to marry Eduardo.
The same year she got married, she made history as the youngest person ever elected to Hawaii’s House of Representatives. Just a year later, she joined the Hawaii National Guard. By 2004, Tulsi was deployed to Iraq for the first of two combat tours with the 29th Brigade, an experience that would not only shape her political views but also change her personal life forever.
The strain of an 18-month-long deployment proved too much for their young marriage. In 2006, Tulsi and Eduardo divorced. Reflecting on the breakup, Tulsi shared that their story is “another statistic, another sad story, illustrating the stresses war places on military spouses and families.” She admitted that the separation wasn’t easy, and for years, she held onto Eduardo’s last name, hoping they might reconcile.
Ultimately, she came to accept that their paths had diverged. Tulsi resumed using her maiden name and moved forward, but she has always spoken warmly of Eduardo and his family. “Eddie and I are still friends,” she once said. “I’m grateful the Tamayo family continues to welcome me as one of their own.”
While their love story didn’t have the ending they might have envisioned, Tulsi and Eduardo’s bond remained rooted in mutual respect, even after their marriage ended.
