Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence Amid Husband’s Cancer Battle

WASHINGTON: Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation on Friday from her position as Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump, citing her husband’s recent diagnosis of a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard informed Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office, with her resignation set to take effect on June 30.

In a resignation letter shared on X, Gabbard expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence over the past 18 months. She emphasized her commitment to her husband, Abraham Williams, stating, “I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming post.”

Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, announcing that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would serve as the acting director. Lukas, a former CIA officer and analyst, previously worked on the National Security Council during Trump’s first term.

Trump acknowledged Gabbard’s contributions, stating she had done “a great job” but understood her desire to support her husband during this challenging time. A source familiar with the situation indicated that Gabbard’s departure may have been influenced by internal pressures from the White House. While the White House did not provide a comment, spokesperson Davis Ingle confirmed Gabbard’s resignation was related to her husband’s health.

Tensions and Differences

In the past, Trump hinted at differences with Gabbard regarding their approach to Iran, suggesting she was “softer” on the issue of curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Reports from April indicated that Gabbard’s position could be at risk amid a broader cabinet shakeup. A senior White House official noted that Trump had expressed dissatisfaction with Gabbard in recent months, and discussions about potential replacements for her role had taken place.

Controversial Tenure as DNI

Gabbard’s appointment as Director of National Intelligence was notable, given her limited intelligence experience. The office was established to oversee the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies following the September 11, 2001, attacks. A member of the Hawaii National Guard, Gabbard served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and later attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

After leaving Congress, Gabbard adopted more conservative viewpoints, endorsing Trump for the 2024 presidential election and switching to the Republican Party. Her tenure was marked by bipartisan criticism, particularly for comments perceived as aligning with Russian narratives regarding NATO’s role in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, her meeting with former Syrian President Bashar Assad during a 2017 visit to Damascus drew scrutiny.

Once in office, Gabbard faced accusations from Democrats of using her position to support Trump’s agenda, particularly regarding claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Tensions escalated when Trump publicly disagreed with her assessment that there was no evidence of Iran developing a nuclear weapon.

Internal Conflicts and Initiatives

Gabbard’s absence from key national security discussions raised concerns among her colleagues. Reports indicated that she was not involved in significant foreign policy deliberations, including military operations in Venezuela and issues related to Iran and Cuba. A source familiar with her departure stated that Gabbard had been “pushed out” by the White House, which had been dissatisfied with her performance for some time.

The source also pointed to her taskforce, the Director’s Initiatives Group, which focused on declassifying documents related to former President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, investigating election machine security, and examining the origins of COVID-19. Another point of contention was Gabbard’s decision to revoke the security clearances of 37 current and former U.S. officials, which exposed the identity of an undercover intelligence officer.

Gabbard’s initiatives aimed at reducing politicization within the intelligence community included stripping security clearances from former officials, such as former CIA Director John Brennan. Senator Mark Warner, a leading critic of Gabbard and the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, remarked that the position had become overly politicized. He emphasized the need for an independent and experienced intelligence professional to lead the office, focusing on foreign intelligence rather than domestic electoral issues.

As reported by www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-05-23 13:56:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk