'She's Wrong': Trump Sidelined Spy Chief Gabbard For Her Assessment Of Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

Last Updated:June 22, 2025, 18:41 IST

Trump instead relied on a tight inner circle of loyalists and military advisers including Vice President JD Vance

US President Donald Trump with Tulsi Gabbard — the Director of National Intelligence. (AP file photo)

US President Donald Trump sidelined two of his top national security officials — Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth — before authorising a surprise high-stakes military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, choosing instead to rely on a tight group of long-time loyalists and senior military insiders.

Both Gabbard and Hegseth was not present in the final strategy sessions held at the White House.

Trump instead relied on a tight inner circle of loyalists and military advisers including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, The Telegraph reported.

On Friday, Trump had dismissed Gabbard’s warning over Iran’s nuclear programme, declaring “she’s wrong".

“I don’t care what she said," Trump went on saying, adding: “I think they were very close to having it."

Gabbard had publicly stated earlier this year that Iran did not appear to be building a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, Hegseth, whose standing within the administration has reportedly weakened in recent months, was also not part of the core group that advised the US President ahead of the strike. His exclusion comes amid fallout from a recent internal leak investigation and public stumbles that have eroded his influence.

The US airstrikes, carried out late Saturday, hit nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, escalating the conflict as the Iran-Israel war entered its 10th day. The move came after days of speculation over whether Trump would commit US forces to support Israel’s military campaign against its arch-rival.

Meanwhile, Tehran has called the US strike a “grave crime" and accused Washington of destroying diplomatic channels by siding openly with Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the attacks had crossed a “major red line".

ALSO READ: ‘Overwhelming Success’: US Defence Secy Details Washington’s ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ On Iran

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News world 'She's Wrong': Trump Sidelined Spy Chief Gabbard For Her Assessment Of Iran's Nuclear Ambitions