Tulsi Gabbard Backs Trump On Iran, Emphasizes Commander-In-Chief Authority

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard defended President Donald Trump’s decision to take military action against Iran, making clear that the final call rests solely with the commander-in-chief.

In a statement Tuesday, Gabbard underscored that her role is to provide intelligence, not to make policy decisions.

“Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief,” Gabbard said.

“As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat,” she added.

Gabbard explained that the intelligence community’s responsibility is to gather and present accurate information to inform presidential decisions.

“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President… with the best information available,” she said.

She noted that after reviewing the intelligence, Trump concluded that Iran posed a serious and immediate threat.

“President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” Gabbard said.

Her remarks come amid internal tensions within the intelligence community following a high-profile resignation.

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down earlier in the day, claiming the United States was not facing an imminent threat from Iran.

Kent also alleged that the decision to go to war was influenced by Israel, a claim administration officials have strongly rejected.

According to reporting, Kent had not been included in key planning sessions or briefings related to the Iran operation.

An intelligence official told reporters that Kent was not part of the core decision-making process surrounding the conflict.

The same official also dismissed claims that Gabbard had been asked to remove Kent from his position.

“If she had been asked to do so, she would have fired him,” the source said.

Gabbard’s statement reinforces the administration’s position that the strike against Iran was based on national security intelligence and presidential authority.

The White House has consistently argued that preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities remains a top priority.

Officials say the president acted within his constitutional authority to protect American interests and security.

The dispute highlights broader divisions over the justification for the conflict, even as the administration maintains that its actions were necessary and based on credible intelligence.