Donald Trump has privately asked cabinet members in recent weeks whether he should replace his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, according to two people briefed on the discussions. The president expressed frustration that Gabbard shielded a former deputy who undercut his rationale for war with Iran.
It is not clear that Trump will actually fire Gabbard. Currently, there is no standout candidate to take the job, and advisers have cautioned that creating a high-profile vacancy before a successor is ready could cause unhelpful political distractions. However, Trump’s discussions mark an ominous development, given the president tends to poll his advisers when he starts to seriously consider a personnel change.
Trump’s doubts followed Gabbard’s testimony at the worldwide threats hearing last month, where she declined to condemn Joe Kent, who had resigned days earlier after arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. The nature of Kent’s departure and his criticism of the war had already angered Trump, but he expressed particular frustration about Gabbard seemingly defending Kent and appearing reluctant to defend the administration’s position to attack Iran.
Asked on Sunday whether he still had confidence in Gabbard’s leadership, Trump offered a mixed endorsement. “Yeah, sure,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I mean, she’s a little bit different in her thought process than me, but that doesn’t make somebody not available to serve.”
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung defended Gabbard’s tenure, stating that Trump has confidence in her. Gabbard’s spokesperson Olivia Coleman added that she remains committed to her responsibilities. However, Gabbard has also faced criticism for other perceived transgressions, including a video she recorded warning about nuclear war after visiting Hiroshima, which Trump felt would scare people.
