Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, the glamorous right-hand aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and a former CIA officer married into the Kennedy family, has resigned from the White House amid growing whispers of a feud between President Donald Trump and his top intelligence officials over Iran.
Resignation Over Iran Strikes
Sources familiar with Kennedy's plans told the Washington Post that her resignation stems from her disagreement with Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran. She is the second of Gabbard's top deputies to quit over the Iran conflict. In March, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down after claiming Israeli leaders had misled Trump about the imminent threat Iran posed to the United States.
Failed CIA Deputy Bid
Backed by her father-in-law, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kennedy attempted but failed to become the deputy director of the CIA after Trump's 2024 election. Her bid was blocked by Republican senators who feared she would impose disruptive changes at the agency.
Inside the administration, people familiar with her work said she focused on human espionage, new intelligence-gathering technologies, and East Asia.
Gabbard's Statement
Gabbard told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'We are grateful to Amaryllis Fox Kennedy for her leadership and exceptional service. Under her leadership, we successfully aligned the Intelligence Community agencies with the Administration’s and ODNI’s goals, driving a unified approach to our mission.'
Kennedy sent an email to colleagues earlier this month informing them she was leaving to return to the private sector. She made no mention of the war and praised Trump in the message.
Persistent Calls for Gabbard's Resignation
Since the war began, Gabbard has faced persistent calls to resign over her opposition to US military action in Iran. The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for comment.
Kennedy served simultaneously as a deputy to Gabbard at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget, and a member of Trump's Intelligence Advisory Board. Her roles managing intelligence and oversight raised concerns among some current and former US officials, according to the Washington Post.
