President Trump on Friday publicly rebuked his director of nationwide intelligence for a second time this week over her testimony earlier this yr that the intelligence group didn’t consider Iran was constructing a nuclear weapon.
“What intelligence do you could have that Iran is constructing a nuclear weapon? Your intelligence group had stated they haven’t any proof that they’re at this level,” a reporter requested Trump after he arrived in New Jersey.
“Nicely, then my intelligence group is incorrect. Who within the intelligence group stated that?” Trump responded.
When a reporter responded that it was Gabbard, Trump replied, “She’s incorrect.”
Gabbard testified to Congress in March that the intelligence group assessed that Iran was not constructing a nuclear weapon, and its supreme chief had not approved a nuclear weapons program. She additionally famous that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was “unprecedented for a state with out nuclear weapons.”
Gabbard’s place in Trump’s orbit of prime advisers has come beneath scrutiny in current days, and Trump’s feedback dismissing her testimony will solely add gasoline to the uncertainty about her function.
Trump earlier within the week equally brushed back Gabbard’s evaluation, telling reporters, “I do not care what she stated. I feel they have been near having one.”
Vice President Vance and different White Home officers have defended Gabbard. Vance, in a publish this week on X, wrote that “rather a lot has modified” since Gabbard’s testimony in March. He additionally praised her in a press release as “a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump and a crucial a part of the coalition he inbuilt 2024.”
The president’s feedback come as he weighs whether or not to get extra straight concerned within the battle between Iran and Israel. Trump has been adamant that Iran can’t be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, although he has given a two-week window for negotiations to happen earlier than he doubtlessly strikes ahead with a direct strike.