Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard lashed out at the news media after President Donald Trump said Friday that she was “wrong” in her assessment of Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.
The Context
Gabbard in March testified on Capitol Hill that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not authorized the nuclear weapons program.
Her testimony has resurfaced in recent days, as Trump considers whether to join Israel in its offensive against Iran by authorizing a U.S. strike on Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility located deep underground in Fordo. Israel cannot destroy the site without the U.S.’s help, as it would require 30,000-pound bunker-busting munitions that only the U.S. can provide.
Israel has claimed for years that Iran is on the cusp of developing a nuclear weapon and Trump has also said he believes Iran was “close” to having one before Israel launched its strikes against Iran last week.
What To Know
“What intelligence do you have that Iran is building a nuclear weapon? Your intelligence community had said they have no evidence that they are at this point,” a reporter asked Trump on Friday as he arrived in New Jersey.
“Well, then, my intelligence community is wrong,” Trump said. “Who in the intelligence community said that?”
A reporter pointed out that it was Gabbard, to which the president replied: “She’s wrong.” He made a similar statement aboard Air Force One on Monday.
The DNI posted a clip of her testimony to X (formerly Twitter) after Trump’s comments on Friday and accused the media of distorting her remarks.
“The dishonest media is intentionally taking my testimony out of context and spreading fake news as a way to manufacture division,” Gabbard wrote. “America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can’t happen, and I agree.”
What People Are Saying
The White House’s rapid response team defended Gabbard, writing on X: “.@DNIGabbard‘s testimony has consistently backed up President Trump’s position — and shame on the media for trying to twist it and misrepresent the truth. FACT: @DNIGabbard has testified that Iran has produced levels of enriched uranium that is unpredecdented [sic] for a nation without nuclear weapons. FACT: If Iran decides to finalize its assembly, the weapon would be weeks away from being operational.”
Vice President JD Vance also backed Gabbard earlier this week after Trump said she was “wrong” about Iran, telling NewsNation in a statement: “Tulsi is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of Pres Trump and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024. She’s an essential member of our nat sec team, & we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats.”
What Happens Next
The White House said Trump will make a final decision on whether to strike Iran in the next two weeks.
Update: 6/20/25, 8:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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