Trump Supports Tulsi Gabbard’s Role as DNI
On Friday, President Donald Trump expressed confidence in Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s position, commending her performance during her recent speech to the House Intelligence Committee.
A reporter inquired whether Gabbard’s job remained secure amidst speculation about her potential resignation from the Trump administration. This speculation arose just days after Joe Kent stepped down as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), following her reported opposition to military actions against Iran.
“I thought she did a good job yesterday,” Trump stated in response.
According to a report from Breitbart News’ Olivia Rondeau, Gabbard had testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, where she discussed the intelligence community’s view on “China’s Operation Epic Fury” and the activities of drug cartels.
During that hearing, she warned that the spread of extremist Islamic ideology “poses a fundamental threat to the freedoms and fundamental principles that underpin Western civilization.” She acknowledged that counterterrorism efforts and strict border enforcement have reduced the threat to Americans from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, but maintained that radical Islamist ideology remains a significant danger.
In her remarks, Gabbard emphasized that intelligence agencies believe nations such as Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan are developing advanced missile technology that could target the United States.
The next day, Gabbard appeared before the House Intelligence Committee, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel.
As she presented her findings, conservative journalist Laura Loomer suggested that Gabbard’s staff anticipated her resignation following Kent’s departure. Loomer noted that during her two days of congressional testimony, Gabbard did not outwardly support President Trump or his decisions; instead, she underscored his authority to make presidential decisions while clarifying her disagreement with some of them.
