The spotlight has shifted away from Tulsi Gabbard, the National Intelligence Director, in recent White House talks about the escalating war between Iran and Israel.
Insiders say she’s been largely pushed to the sidelines after posting a controversial video that stirred up tensions within the Trump administration.
Missing from Key National Security Meeting at Camp David
Gabbard was notably absent from a critical June 8 meeting at Camp David where top officials gathered to discuss the rising crisis in the Middle East.
Officially, she was excused because of National Guard training commitments.
But sources suggest there’s more to the story, especially after her Hiroshima trip video alarmed White House aides.
Hiroshima Video Sparks White House Frustration
Last week, Gabbard shared a chilling video from Hiroshima, Japan, simulating a nuclear attack on San Francisco.
The video warned about an impending “nuclear annihilation,” and it didn’t sit well with the administration.
When President Trump saw it, he reportedly got angry, feeling she had spoken out of turn.
This reaction came shortly after hawkish Israeli military leaders met with Trump to push for stronger U.S. support in attacking Iran.
According to insiders, Trump told associates that Gabbard’s video contradicted the administration’s message, and he dislikes when people publicly “correct” him.
Public Disagreement with Trump on Iran’s Nuclear Threat
The tension escalated when Trump openly dismissed Gabbard’s March testimony to Congress, where she claimed U.S. intelligence didn’t believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon.
On Air Force One, Trump said, “I don’t care what she said,” signaling a clear divide between the two.
Despite Trump’s dismissal, sources say the intelligence community’s view hasn’t changed.
Meanwhile, Gabbard appears increasingly at odds with Trump’s stance, as he continues to insist Iran can’t get nuclear weapons and is planning potential military action against Iran.
Gabbard Advocates Diplomacy and Opposes Military Intervention
With her influence waning in internal debates, Gabbard is reportedly working quietly behind the scenes, pushing for a diplomatic path.
She has reached out to European allies who maintain open communication with Tehran.
Gabbard has long been a vocal critic of U.S. military involvement abroad.
During the 2024 election, she condemned wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya, and accused the Biden administration of edging the U.S. closer to nuclear conflict.
She vows to end “regime change” wars, which has made her a controversial figure within Republican circles.
Republican Critics Demand Her Removal
Not everyone is on board with Gabbard’s approach.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor, bluntly said she “shouldn’t be in that job.”
Senator John Kennedy even told Jewish Insider that Gabbard “obviously needs to change her meds,” a remark that highlights the sharp criticism she faces from some GOP figures.
Isolationism Once Welcomed, Now Causes Friction
A White House official anonymously admitted that while Gabbard’s isolationist views once fit well with Trump’s “America First” agenda, those same views now make her stand out — and not in a good way.
“If you adopt a Chihuahua, you shouldn’t be surprised that you have a Chihuahua,” the official joked, hinting that her independent stance is hard to change.
White House Denies Internal Rift
Despite the rumors, the White House insists there’s no serious tension between Gabbard and Trump.
They pointed out that she was present with the president and senior officials in the Situation Room recently, and that the administration even adjusted briefing times to fit her schedule.
One Republican insider said Gabbard’s standing is “generally OK,” but noted that traditional Republicans and neocons might try to diminish her influence amid the current crisis.
Public Support from Key White House Figures
Some top officials have publicly backed Gabbard.
Vice President JD Vance praised her as “a veteran, a patriot, and a loyal supporter of President Trump” and called her “a critical part of the coalition” that won the 2024 election.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung echoed this sentiment, saying Trump has “full confidence” in his national security team and accused the media of trying to stir up division.
Gabbard Stands by Her Assessment on Iran
Gabbard insists that Trump’s recent comments about Iran’s nuclear program actually align with what she told Congress back in March.
She highlighted that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles are at their highest levels.
She explained that Iran will likely continue supporting groups opposing Israel and pushing for a U.S. military withdrawal by aiding various militant factions, known as the “axis of resistance.”
Gabbard concluded by saying, “President Trump was saying the same thing I said in my annual threat assessment, but unfortunately too many in the media don’t bother to read what I actually said.”