Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as US Director of National Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard (File photo/PTI)

US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard on Friday announced that she is stepping down from her post to support her husband, who was recently diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.” She shared her resignation letter on X after Fox News first reported her decision to step down.

Thanking Gabbard for her service, US President Donald Trump announced that Aaron Lukas would serve as the interim Director of National Intelligence.

“Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the White House had “forced” Gabbard to step down. There had already been speculation that Gabbard could part ways with the Trump administration following the president’s decision to strike Iran, a move that reportedly triggered divisions within the administration.

In March, Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, also resigned, saying he “cannot in good conscience” support the war.

During a congressional hearing in March, Gabbard drew attention for her carefully worded remarks, which stopped short of fully endorsing Trump’s decision to attack Iran. She repeatedly sidestepped questions on whether the White House had been warned about the potential fallout of the conflict, including Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In her written remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard said there had been no effort by Iran to rebuild its nuclear capability after US attacks last year had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear programme. The statement appeared to contradict the president, who has repeatedly argued that the strikes were necessary to prevent an imminent threat from the Islamic Republic.