Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as US director of national intelligence, following a tumultuous period in which she was sidelined from key operations. In a letter to President Donald Trump, she announced her resignation effective 30 June, citing a need to care for her husband, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
The White House forced Gabbard to resign, according to a source familiar with the matter. Fox News first reported her exit, linking it to her husband's illness. Trump confirmed the departure on his Truth Social platform, praising Gabbard's work and naming Aaron Lukas as acting director.
Gabbard's tenure was marked by controversy and marginalisation. She was excluded from decisions on Venezuela and Iran, including the seizure of Nicolás Maduro and renewed strikes on Iran. Trump publicly dismissed her assessment that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, saying he did not care what she said.
Critics pointed to her repeating Kremlin talking points on Ukraine and a 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Democratic senators Mark Warner and Adam Schiff expressed hope that her successor would restore integrity to the office, with Schiff calling her resignation a positive step for national security.
