President Donald Trump says National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard was “wrong” about Iran’s nuclear program
Washington, June 21, 2025 — President Donald Trump on Friday stated that his appointed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was "wrong" when she testified before Congress in March saying that Iran was not developing a nuclear weapon. This marks the second time in a week that Trump has rejected the assessment of his own intelligence chief.
The White House said earlier this week that Iran already possesses everything necessary to produce a nuclear weapon and only awaits the green light from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to begin, potentially completing a weapon within weeks. President Trump remarked, “Iran is now very close to building a nuclear weapon.”
In her March testimony before Congress, Gabbard had said, “U.S. intelligence assessments show that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, and that Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized resumption of the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.” Gabbard later claimed she and the president were aligned in their views.
However, on Friday, President Trump again rejected the intelligence community’s assessment and Gabbard’s position. The White House confirmed that the president would make a decision within two weeks on whether to join Israel in military strikes on Iran.
Upon arriving in Bedminster, New Jersey on Friday, reporters asked President Trump:
“Do you have intelligence indicating that Iran is building a nuclear weapon? Your intelligence agencies say there’s no such evidence.”
Trump responded:
“Then my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?”
The reporter answered:
“Your Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.”
Trump said directly:
“She’s wrong,” then moved on to the next question.
Earlier this week, while returning from the G7 summit, Trump had similarly dismissed Gabbard’s testimony, telling reporters aboard Air Force One:
“I don’t care what she said. I believe Iran is very close to having a nuclear weapon.”
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday:
“Tulsi’s testimony was in March, and a lot has changed since then.”
According to CBS News, President Trump has already been briefed on the risks and benefits of bombing Fordow, Iran’s most secure nuclear facility. The president reportedly believes it is crucial to neutralize the site, given the possibility that Iran could produce a weapon in a very short time.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the president would decide within two weeks whether to participate in Israel’s strikes on Iran, during which diplomatic efforts would continue.
At the White House press briefing, Leavitt read a statement from President Trump:
“In my view, there is still a real possibility for negotiations with Iran. Based on the outcome of those discussions, I will decide within the next two weeks what action to take.”
On Friday, when asked by reporters if a strike could take place before the two-week period ends, Trump replied:
“I’m giving them a timeframe. Let’s see what that timeframe ends up being. But two weeks would be the maximum.”
