NEW: Trump Sidelines Tulsi Gabbard As New Rift Begins

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is facing her greatest power struggle since taking office, and it’s with President Donald Trump.

The dilemma appears to be one of Gabbard’s own making after the former Democratic congresswoman released an unreviewed video declaring that Iran is “closer than ever before” to developing a nuclear weapon. The video’s release set off a cascade of phone calls from the White House and included a public rebuff by Trump.

Now, Gabbard has found herself sidelined as the president makes what may be the most consequential foreign policy decision of his second term.

Those around Trump this week say that Gabbard is nowhere to be seen in “war room” meetings where military leaders give their best predictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and storage locations and game out scenarios of direct U.S. involvement. Trump has said he will not make a decision until the last minute.

Multiple senior officials described tension between Gabbard and the White House that’s notched up to the point that Vice President J.D. Vance recently took to social media to defend her from suggestions that Gabbard will soon be fired.

The rift became widely known after President Trump brushed aside Gabbard’s congressional testimony on Monday, declaring that the military does not believe Iran is currently working toward a nuclear bomb.

“I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one,” Trump told reporters Tuesday on Air Force One.

A person close to Gabbard told NBC News that the military’s position on Iran has not changed since her testimony.

They also acknowledged that her position had taken a hit during separate interviews this week, citing the ill-advised release of a social media video following Trump’s rebuffing of her testimony. The video featured images of cities being destroyed by bombs while Gabbard narrated the dangers posed if Iran completes its nuclear capabilities.

“I have heard that also,” a Gabbard ally said of the video. “But I don’t think it reached the level of the president himself. I am told the matter has been ‘resolved.’”

Gabbard did not attend a June 8 meeting at Camp David, the presidential getaway that frequently serves as an outpost to traditional command centers in the White House. A White House official refuted the suggestion that her absence signaled a lack of trust, saying on background that Gabbard was not present because she was required to take part in training as a member of the National Guard.

Her advocacy against war, including opposition to the war in Iraq, has put administration officials in a bind, just as Trump wants to leave his options open.

“I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.

However, they do not yet feel that Gabbard’s opposition has gotten to the point where she needs to be cut loose.

That belief was underscored by Vance’s post on Wednesday expressing confidence in the director of national intelligence.

“Tulsi is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of Pres Trump and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024,” Vice President JD Vance said in a statement Tuesday. “She’s an essential member of our nat sec team, & we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats.”