‘She Is Wrong’: Trump Rebukes DNI Gabbard Over Iran Nuclear Claims, Intelligence Community Divided

There seemed to appear this week to be a rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, over a judgment on Iran's nuclear program — with Trump publicly dismissing Gabbard's evidence on it not once but twice in a week.

Addressing reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, upon arrival on Friday, Trump reaffirmed his strong belief that Iran is working hard toward nuclear weapons, contrary to Gabbard's previous testimony before Congress in March in which she declared Tehran's nuclear program "not close to a bomb." Asked about the inconsistency, Trump was blunt: "She's wrong."

This was the second time in days that Trump brushed aside Gabbard's assessment. On Monday, during a flight aboard Air Force One, he replied, "I don't care what she says," to a reporter's question regarding Gabbard's opinions colliding with his claim that Iran is approaching bomb capability.

There might have been tensions brewing in the background. Politico reported this week that Trump had privately vented frustration about a re-emerged video clip where Gabbard had accused "political elites and warmongers" of fueling tensions with Iran. As tensions rose in West Asia, Trump indicated he would take two weeks to determine whether to support Israel in a possible attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

After the President's public comments, Gabbard directed her criticism at the media. She took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted a clip of her March testimony, accusing the press of intentionally distorting her words. "The dishonest media is willfully taking my testimony out of context and peddling false news as a means of creating division," she tweeted.

She continued to explain her stance: "America has been told that Iran is to the point where it can assemble a nuclear weapon in weeks to months if it chooses to complete the assembly. President Trump has been very clear that cannot occur, and I concur."

The White House rapid response team jumped into action immediately to respond on Gabbard's behalf to defend her credibility and support as a co-ascender of the President's position. "@DNIGabbard's testimony has always supported President Trump's stance, and shame on the media for attempting to spin it and distort the facts," a tweet on X read. It went on to say: "FACT: @DNIGabbard testified that Iran has developed amounts of enriched uranium unprecedented for a non-nuclear state. FACT: If Iran goes ahead with its assembly, the weapon would be weeks from becoming operational."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance also stepped in to support Gabbard earlier in the week. Speaking to News Nation, he said, “Tulsi is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024. She’s an essential member of our national security team, and we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats.”

As tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions remain at the forefront, eyes are now on Trump's decision, due soon, on whether or not to authorize a military strike — a step that could significantly heighten tensions in the area and reconstitute U.S. foreign policy in the months ahead.