In a surprising twist of events, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has emerged from the shadows to clarify her stance after President Donald Trump dismissed her congressional testimony regarding Iran’s nuclear development ambitions.
The controversy erupted during a CNN interview, where Kaitlan Collins, serving as a diligent (albeit somewhat biased) reporter, questioned Trump aboard Air Force One about Gabbard’s earlier statements.
“Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon,” she asserted, likely hoping to catch Trump off-guard.
Trump, however, was quick to refute, asserting, “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one.”
Vice President JD Vance joined the debate, taking to X to clarify, “First off, Tulsi’s testimony was in March, and a lot has changed since then. Secondly, her remarks about uranium enrichment align with my previous statements.”
Vance pointed out that while Iran is allowed to pursue nuclear energy for civilian purposes, the regime’s consistent violations of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations raise serious concerns about its intentions to develop nuclear weapons.
In a bid to reclaim her narrative, Gabbard responded via a statement shared by CNN Capitol Hill reporter Sarah Ferris, which was subsequently validated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), as noted by The Daily Caller.
Ferris tweeted:
DNI Gabbard tells us she and Trump are “on the same page” regarding the Iranian nuclear timeline.
“President Trump was echoing the points I made in my annual threat assessment back in March. Unfortunately, many in the media choose not to actually read my statements.”
DNI Gabbard tells us she and Trump are “on the same page” regarding the Iranian nuclear timeline
“President Trump was echoing the points I made in my annual threat assessment back in March. Unfortunately, many in the media choose not to actually read my statements.”
— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) June 17, 2025
For those needing context, Gabbard’s March testimony, shared by ODNI deputy chief of staff Alexa Henning, provides clarity that counters the media’s narrative. She conveyed to Congress:
The intelligence community maintains that Iran is not currently developing a nuclear weapon, and that Supreme Leader Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003. We are closely monitoring whether Tehran chooses to reinstate its nuclear weapons program. Over the past year, there has been a disturbing shift in Iran’s long-standing taboo on openly discussing nuclear weapons, likely empowering advocates for such weapons within Iran’s decision-making body. Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is at unprecedented levels for a nation without nuclear weapons.
…
Iran continues to seek to expand its influence in the Middle East, despite setbacks faced by its proxies during recent conflicts. The regime has developed and maintains a range of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs, some capable of targeting U.S. assets and allies in the region. Tehran has demonstrated a willingness to deploy these capabilities, notably during the 2020 attack on U.S. forces in Iraq and in assaults against Israel in April and October 2024. Furthermore, Iran’s cyber capabilities pose a significant threat to U.S. networks and data integrity.
Full testimony: pic.twitter.com/rfEGiMJsLJ
— Alexa Henning (@alexahenning) June 17, 2025
