Tulsi Gabbard’s position in the Trump administration is becoming increasingly unstable after President Trump twice dismissed her assessment that Iran isn’t actively developing a nuclear weapon. Initially, she testified that there was no intelligence indicating Iran had moved toward weaponization, but Trump publicly contradicted her, calling her wrong.
Following the backlash, Gabbard reversed her stance and claimed the media had misrepresented her testimony. She now says Iran could be on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon, aligning more closely with Trump’s position. However, critics have noted that her abrupt shift appears to be political damage control a flip-flop that may have preserved her role but eroded her credibility.
Although Gabbard had been praised for her anti-war stance and was brought into the administration partly for her alignment with “America First” foreign policy, her recent moves have drawn skepticism. Her absence from key meetings, including one at Camp David, and her sudden cancellation of a Senate Intelligence Committee appearance, have only fueled speculation that she’s being sidelined in Trump’s decision-making process.
Internally, some within the administration see her as off-message, particularly after a widely circulated video she posted following a visit to Hiroshima. In the video, she warned of the dangers of nuclear conflict and criticized political leaders for stoking tensions. This was viewed as undercutting the administration’s tougher posture toward Iran.
Members of Congress from both parties have voiced concern about the apparent disconnect between the intelligence community and the president. Some lawmakers continue to defend Gabbard’s integrity, while others question her judgment and accuse her of shaping intelligence to fit political goals.
Though the White House has denied any rift and publicly reaffirmed its confidence in the national security team, Gabbard’s credibility within Trump’s circle has taken a hit. Her attempt to walk back her original position and shift blame to the media may have been too little, too late the damage is already done.
