Trump Distances Himself from Intel Chief Tulsi Gabbard as US Weighs Iran Options

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trump has distanced himself from  National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, as she was seen absent in internal White House talks on the conflict between Iran and Israel, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing senior government officials who were aware of the situation.

Gabbard, who has long opposed U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts, was reported to have fallen out of favor with Trump. Nevertheless, some of Gabbard's allies believe that she will not resign from the cabinet despite differing views with Trump.

On Tuesday, Trump criticized Gabbard's statement in Congress last March, which stated that the U.S. Intelligence Community assessed that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons. "I don't care what she (Gabbard) said. I think they (Iran) are very close to having one," Trump told reporters on Tuesday on Air Force One.

Sources from NBC mentioned that the U.S. intelligence assessment regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities remain unchanged.

The relationship between Gabbard and Trump heated up when the former Democratic congresswoman posted a video on June 10 after a trip to Hiroshima, Japan. The video, which featured simulations of the destruction of American cities and Gabbard's warning about the danger of nuclear war, angered the White House team, said officials.

Gabbard did not attend a high-level officials meeting on June 8 at Camp David, the president's retreat in Maryland, to discuss tensions between Israel and Iran, raising new questions about her status in the government. A White House official told NBC News that Gabbard did not attend because she had to undergo scheduled training as a National Guard member.

The issue of a rift between Trump and Gabbard was dismissed by the White House. "Tulsi is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of Pres Trump and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024," Vice President JD Vance said in a statement on Tuesday.

"She’s an essential member of our nat sec team, & we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats."

Gabbard has long used her public platform to oppose U.S. military action against Iran and has worked behind the scenes to try to find diplomatic solutions, said two government officials.

In one instance, Gabbard sought the help of European allies who have communication channels with Tehran, a government official said.

At times, this directly contradicts Trump's public comments about the open confrontation between Israel and Iran, a fight he himself acknowledges may now require U.S. intervention.

"I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," Trump told reporters on Wednesday.

Israel launched a major military operation against Iran early on June 13, claiming that Iran was secretly running a nuclear weapons program.

The Israeli air force carried out a series of airstrikes in various regions of Iran, including Tehran, which killed several senior military officials and nuclear scientists.

Iran denies allegations that its nuclear program has a military dimension. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated on June 18 that the agency had not found concrete evidence that Iran is actively developing nuclear weapons.

A report from CNN on Tuesday, citing reliable sources, also stated that U.S. intelligence assessments until now indicated that Iran is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons.

Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan and human rights activist, Craig Murray, told RIA Novosti as reported by Antara, that Iran has shown patience and a responsible attitude in recent years, despite continuous provocation from Israel.

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