What started as a somber visit to Hiroshima has now snowballed into a political firestorm.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard is facing backlash from inside the Trump administration after sharing a dramatic video that some say undercut the White House’s messaging on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
Gabbard’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
When top national security officials gathered at Camp David on June 8 to discuss military strategy in the Middle East, one key player was missing: Tulsi Gabbard.
The official reason given for her absence? She was tied up with mandatory National Guard training.
But according to insiders, the real reason may have more to do with politics than scheduling.
Fallout from Hiroshima Video Goes Viral
Gabbard recently posted a jarring video from Hiroshima that included a simulation of a nuclear strike on San Francisco.
She warned viewers of a looming “nuclear annihilation” if diplomacy fails.
While she likely intended to sound the alarm on global tensions, her video rattled nerves in Washington.
Some insiders say it directly contradicted the Trump administration’s more hawkish tone toward Iran.
President Trump, after viewing the video, was reportedly furious.
According to Politico, he felt she had “spoken out of turn”—especially since Israeli defense leaders had just urged him to ramp up U.S. support for their offensive against Iran.
Trump Reportedly Frustrated with Gabbard’s Messaging
An anonymous senior official shared that Trump doesn’t dislike Gabbard personally, but her video struck a nerve.
“He doesn’t like it when people stray off-message,” the source said.
“And that video looked like she was trying to correct him.”
The tension intensified when Trump appeared to brush off Gabbard’s earlier testimony to Congress, in which she said U.S. intelligence had no solid proof that Iran was actively developing nuclear weapons.
Speaking on Air Force One, Trump told reporters, “I don’t care what she said.”
Gabbard Pushed to the Sidelines in War Talks
Since then, Gabbard has reportedly been excluded from high-level strategy meetings about the Israel-Iran conflict.
While the administration gears up for possible military action, Gabbard has been working quietly behind the scenes—trying to line up European allies for a diplomatic resolution instead.
She’s long been a critic of U.S. military entanglements, campaigning in 2024 against American involvement in conflicts like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya.
Her views made her a standout on Trump’s “America First” team—until now.
Critics Within the GOP Speak Out
Some Republicans are publicly voicing their frustration.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor, flatly said Gabbard doesn’t belong in her current role.
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy took a jab, telling Jewish Insider that Gabbard “obviously needs to change her meds.”
A White House official told NBC News that while Gabbard’s anti-interventionist stance once fit the administration’s tone, her current views are now making her an outlier.
“If you adopt a Chihuahua, you shouldn’t be surprised when it acts like a Chihuahua,” the official quipped.
White House Tries to Downplay Rift
Despite the behind-the-scenes tension, the Trump team is publicly trying to show unity.
Officials confirmed that Gabbard was present in the White House Situation Room for a key briefing—one that was reportedly rescheduled just to fit her in.
“She’s in generally OK standing,” said a GOP strategist familiar with the matter.
Some Republican insiders believe neoconservatives are trying to weaken Gabbard’s role in national security.
“They’re just taking this opportunity to push her out,” one operative said.
Gabbard Defends Her Record
Gabbard, for her part, insists there’s no contradiction between her March congressional testimony and what Trump recently said about Iran.
She pointed out that she had already warned lawmakers that Iran’s uranium stockpile was at a record high and that Tehran was actively supporting militant groups opposed to Israel and U.S. presence in the region.
“President Trump said exactly what I said back in March,” Gabbard emphasized.
“Unfortunately, most people in the media don’t bother to read what I actually wrote.”
Some in the Administration Still Back Her
Not everyone in the administration is distancing themselves from Gabbard.
Vice President JD Vance offered strong support this week, calling her “a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump, and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024.”
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung also downplayed media reports of internal division, saying, “President Trump has full confidence in his entire exceptional national security team.”