Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is accusing the media of distorting her words after Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that she is “wrong” about Iran not being close to developing a nuclear weapon.
After arriving in New Jersey on Friday, a reporter asked Trump, “what intelligence do you have that Iran is building a nuclear weapon? Your intelligence community had said they have no evidence that they are at this point.”
“Well, then, my intelligence community is wrong,” Trump said. “Who in the intelligence community said that?”
“Your director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard,” the reporter answered.
“She’s wrong,” Trump responded.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the U.S. “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”
But, in a post on X after Trump’s comments, Gabbard accused the media of taking her testimony out of context.
“The dishonest media is intentionally taking my testimony out of context and spreading fake news as a way to manufacture division,” Gabbard wrote.
“America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly,” she continued. “President Trump has been clear that can’t happen, and I agree.”
Trump’s dismissal of Gabbard comes days after Politico reported the president is frustrated with her and that Gabbard was on the outs.
