Tulsi Gabbard Declares Islamist Ideology the ‘Greatest Threat to Freedom’ at AmericaFest Speech
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a stark warning during her speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Saturday, calling Islamist ideology the single greatest threat to freedom and liberty—both abroad and within the United States.
“There is a threat to our freedom that hasn’t been talked about enough,” Gabbard told the crowd. “And it is the greatest near and long-term threat to both our freedom and our security, and that is the threat of Islamist ideology.”
Gabbard, a former presidential candidate and Army veteran, said the ideology is incompatible with America’s founding principles, including the inalienable rights enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. “Their fundamental ideology is antithetical to the foundation that we find in our Constitution … the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” she said.
Referencing 9/11 and other acts of Islamist terrorism, Gabbard reminded attendees of the extent to which such ideologies are willing to use violence to achieve power. “It is a political ideology that seeks to create a global caliphate that governs us here in America,” she explained. “And if you fail to comply … they will use violence or any means they deem necessary to silence us.”
Gabbard warned that this movement isn’t confined to distant war zones. She claimed that Western nations, including parts of Europe, are already altering their traditions due to growing Islamist threats. “As we approach Christmas, right now in Germany they are canceling Christmas markets because of this threat,” she said.
She also cited the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as one of the few who had consistently recognized and sounded the alarm on this threat before his death.
Gabbard closed by affirming that true freedom can only survive if the public remains vigilant. “Our rights come from God, not government,” she said. “And unless we’re willing to recognize and confront ideologies that oppose those rights, we risk losing everything.”
Her speech drew loud applause and marked one of the most forceful national security warnings of the conference.
WATCH FULL REMARKS BELOW:
? Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warns that the greatest threat to freedom is Islamist ideology:
“It is a political ideology that seeks to create a global caliphate that governs us here in America”
She says it is already here and is happening in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/MDhQeB3nLH
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) December 21, 2025