Tulsi Gabbard Outfits That Should Have Stayed In The Closet

Although Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, is one of the few MAGA ladies who isn't falling victim to "Mar-A-Lago face," that doesn't mean she's one to turn to when it comes to tips on style. Not only does she repeat the same looks over and over again — and not in an upcycling way, but more in a "she just doesn't care" sort of way — like many others in MAGA world, being fashionable simply doesn't come easily to Gabbard. While one could say these people have other things on their plate to worry about, plenty of women in politics throughout history have been able to succeed both in their position and in their take on fashion. Take former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who was nicknamed "Gucci Helle," for example.

But of all the outfits that Gabbard has tried to pull off, there are some that really should have just stayed in her closet. Granted, not everyone can be at the top of their fashion game at all times, but Gabbard has even more style faux pas under her belt than many other MAGA women — and that's really saying something. The only upside to all of Gabbard's looks that have missed the mark is that they at least complement her penchant for cakey makeup (similarly to her fellow MAGA women). After all, if you're going to look like a disaster, you should embrace it from it head-to-toe. When it comes to style, it's all about going big or going home.

In August 2016, Tulsi Gabbard took to the streets with a sign to remind people to vote for her. As usual, she's wearing a lei so no one can forget her heritage or the fact that she grew up in Hawai'i – and, honestly, good for her. But where things get sloppy is with this shirt and its desperate need to be ironed or steamed. When you're in the public eye, you want to be presentable at all times, but that's not happening here. Instead, it's hard to see beyond Gabbard's wrinkly shirt, taking away from her message.

As much as monochromatic looks make for a winning outfit on your laziest days, there's a simple to rule to abide by: The colors have to be the same. However, when Tulsi Gabbard wore this ensemble at the White House in July 2025, she missed the whole monochromatic theme by a long shot. Because her shirt is white and her pantsuit is closer to cream, it simply doesn't work. It also makes the suit look a big dingy because it's not pure white like her top, which is definitely something one should avoid when experimenting with monochromatic trends in a professional environment.

While it has become clear that MAGA women suffer from outfit blindness more often than not, when Tulsi Gabbard met up with some constituents in April 2024, she took a page from Lauren Boebert and the outdated denim trend she won't give up by wearing skinny jeans. Not only are these jeans a blast from the past, but wearing them with a black tank top, black heels, and a brown belt is not helping the situation. Had this photo been taken in 2005, Gabbard's outfit would have been perfect for this meet-and-greet. But it wasn't 2005; it was almost two decades later.

In March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard, for reasons we'll never know, testified before the annual worldwide threats assessment hearing at the Longworth House Office Building, thinking this jailhouse orange ensemble was the best color for the occasion. It, of course, was not; and while this color is going to look fabulous on many members of the Trump Administration in a few years, this was not the time or the place for it. What makes this top even more unbearable is the design and how it's very reminiscent of the outfits Pam Bondi has ripped from the 1970s — and not in a good way.

Although wearing a blazer with jeans can work, you need to be wary about what color that blazer is, so it doesn't look like you're trying to fool people into thinking you're wearing a pantsuit. However, when Tulsi Gabbard wore this light blue blazer with her light blue jeans when hanging out with her bestie, Meghan McCain, in January 2025, it just appeared weird and misguided. Had the jeans been darker or the blazer been brighter, it could have worked, but the shades of blue are far too similar, creating an awkward look.

A cowl neck can be either a professional or casual look, and it's all about how you style it. In other words, squishing a cowl neck under a blazer is definitely not the best way to wear it. For starters, a blazer stifles the design of a cowl neck so no one can see it and, secondly, button-down shirts or tops with a crewneck are far better options when you know you'll be wearing a blazer. Because Tulsi Gabbard didn't take this into consideration, she looks dowdy and like she doesn't understand the purpose of this particular neck design.

When it comes to outdated patterns, you'll be hard-pressed to find one as bad as chevron. In fact, even Kaitlan Collins couldn't make chevron work, reminding us that it needs to stay in 2010s. If Collins can't make chevron cool, then you better believe it will also be a struggle for everyone else — and Tulsi Gabbard is no exception. Although this photo of Gabbard cuddling a baby goat is from 2013, it's still too late for chevron, and she should have considered literally any other patterned shirt in the world but this one.

While there's no denying that a belted coat can elevate a look, before it can do that, it needs to fit right. If it doesn't, then you end up looking like you're wearing a bathrobe instead of a proper coat, as Tulsi Gabbard does here. Between the color and design of this coat, it actually could have been a winning style moment for Gabbard, but that would have required her going down a size or two. Even the arms of the coat look too wide for Gabbard's frame.

"Hello there, and welcome aboard! I'm Tulsi Gabbard and I'll be your cruise ship director." If you're able to look at this photo and not immediately envision Gabbard about to set sail, then good for you. If that's all you see, then you're probably in agreement that this outfit either should've stayed in the closet or the white shirt should've been swapped out with any other color. It also doesn't help that Gabbard is wearing the Tory Burch's Reva ballet flats that went out of production in 2017. Granted, Burch brought them back in 2025, but that doesn't stop them from looking dated.