Trump Targeting Women In His Inner Circle? After Bondi, Speculation Turns To Gabbard, Leavitt

Last Updated:April 03, 2026, 15:49 IST

After Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem removed last month, speculation has emerged around Tulsi Gabbard and Karoline Leavitt.

A series of high-profile exits, internal reviews, and public criticism has triggered a new question inside Washington: is US President Donald Trump disproportionately targeting women in his administration?

The debate has intensified after the removal of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the reassignment of Kristi Noem, and fresh scrutiny over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The developments come at a time when the administration is navigating tensions over Iran policy, media narratives, and internal leadership cohesion.

While the White House has not framed these moves in gendered terms, the clustering of actions involving senior women officials has drawn attention, and raised questions about whether this is coincidence, performance-driven churn, or something more structural.

What Has Triggered The ‘Women In The Firing Line’ Debate?

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been removed from her position, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stepping in as her replacement. A month ago, in March, Trump fired Kristi Noem, who served as Homeland Security Secretary. She was reassigned as a State Department envoy.

Now, attention has shifted to two other prominent figures — Tulsi Gabbard and Karoline Leavitt — after reports suggested Trump has questioned their performance and even discussed possible replacements.

Why Is Tulsi Gabbard Under Pressure?

Trump has, in recent weeks, privately asked cabinet members whether Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard should be replaced, expressing frustration over her handling of a controversy linked to Iran policy.

According to The Guardian, Trump was particularly unhappy that Gabbard appeared to shield a former deputy, Joe Kent, whose remarks had undercut the administration’s justification for military action against Iran.

There is, however, no immediate indication that Trump will move to remove Gabbard. Advisers have cautioned against creating a high-profile vacancy without a clear successor in place, warning that such a move could trigger unnecessary political distractions.

Still, the conversations are significant. Trump is known to informally sound out aides when he begins seriously weighing personnel changes, making these discussions an early indicator of potential shifts within his team.

The episode stems from Gabbard’s testimony at a worldwide threats hearing on Capitol Hill last month. During the hearing, she declined to criticise Kent, who had resigned days earlier after arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.

Kent’s remarks had already drawn Trump’s ire. But officials said the president grew more frustrated when Gabbard appeared reluctant to strongly defend the administration’s position on Iran and its military actions.

When asked on Sunday whether he still had confidence in Gabbard, Trump offered a qualified response. “Yeah, sure," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I mean, she’s a little bit different in her thought process than me, but that doesn’t make somebody not available to serve."

What About Karoline Leavitt’s Role?

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, has also come under scrutiny — both publicly and privately — amid concerns within the administration over media handling and messaging.

Trump on Tuesday openly criticised Leavitt during an Oval Office press interaction, joking that she was doing a “terrible job" while discussing what he claimed was overwhelmingly negative media coverage of his administration.

“We have to straighten out our media. People don’t believe the media. And to finish, I got 93% bad publicity. Some people say 97, but between 93 and 97. A person that gets 97% of bad stories, maybe Karoline’s doing a poor job, I don’t know. She’s my rep… you’re doing a terrible job. Should we keep her? I think we’ll keep her," Trump quipped while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.

Behind the scenes, the concerns appear more serious. According to an Economic Times report, Trump has privately questioned whether a change in communication strategy, and possibly leadership, could help counter negative press narratives. Sources cited in the report also claimed that Trump linked ongoing media distractions to Leavitt’s performance, even raising personal factors such as her pregnancy while assessing her role.

There has also been discussion around potential replacements, with conservative commentator Scott Jennings reportedly among the names being considered.

The White House, however, has sought to downplay the episode, maintaining that Trump’s public remarks were made in jest and that no decision has been taken regarding her position.

Trump has also repeatedly praised Leavitt, who is among the youngest to hold the role. A graduate of Saint Anselm College, she was 27 when she took on the position.

“The youngest and perhaps the best White House press secretary in history, does a fantastic job, Karoline. She keeps me straight. She keeps you — no, sir, you can’t do that. You can’t do this. I can’t do anything. Life would be so much more exciting, wouldn’t it? Thank you, Karoline. Great," Trump said at a Women’s History Month event in March.

The Lesser-Known Case: Susan Monarez At The CDC

Beyond the high-profile names, another case adds depth to the debate.

Susan Monarez, who briefly served as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was removed just weeks after her confirmation in 2025.

The White House stated that she was “not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again." However, Monarez’s attorneys argued that she had been “targeted" for refusing to approve what they described as “unscientific" directives.

Her removal triggered a leadership vacuum at the CDC, with interim arrangements involving multiple officials and no permanent replacement announced so far.

Is There A Pattern In These Moves?

The sequence of developments has drawn attention because it involves multiple senior women in the administration within a short span. However, the triggers in each case appear to be different.

Trump has been actively reviewing key positions in his second term, weighing performance, policy alignment, and public perception while considering potential changes.

What Do These Developments Signal For Trump’s Second Term?

The ongoing churn suggests that Trump’s second-term governance is marked by constant recalibration rather than stability.

Leadership positions are being actively reviewed, and even senior officials are not immune to scrutiny. Mike Waltz, who served as national security adviser, was the first senior member of the administration to be removed after Trump returned to the White House. His ouster came weeks after a report by The Atlantic revealed that he had organised a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal to coordinate a sensitive military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.

Trump later announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over as interim national security adviser, while Waltz was nominated as US ambassador to the United Nations. He was confirmed to that role in September.

For now, Tulsi Gabbard and Karoline Leavitt remain in their positions, and no formal moves have been announced. However, the fact that discussions around their roles are taking place indicates that further changes within the administration cannot be ruled out.

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