Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as DNI
May 23—Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Thursday that she will resign at the end of June, citing a family medical crisis involving her husband, according to a resignation letter addressed to President Donald Trump.
In the letter, dated May 22, 2026, and marked "Unclassified," Gabbard said her husband, Abraham, was recently diagnosed with "an extremely rare form of bone cancer," prompting her decision to step away from public service.
"Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026," Gabbard wrote. "At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle."
Gabbard, a former Hawaii Democratic congresswoman and Army veteran, has served as director of national intelligence for 18 months. She thanked Trump for "the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence."
Following her departure, Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas will step up to serve as acting DNI until a permanent replacement is confirmed by the Senate.
Gabbard’s Intelligence Assessments on Iran
Although she has never contradicted or spoken out against Trump's sometimes wild mis-assertions of intelligence estimates, Gabbard has served as a sober counsel on matters. For example, she mobilized U.S. intelligence to present an assessment prior to last summer's strike against Iran that there was no intelligence to support Israeli assertions that Iran was close to developing a bomb or represented a threat to U.S. interests in the Gulf. When asked about this by Congress, she stated that it was up to the President to make the final determination.
Similarly, prior to the launching of the Feb. 28 joint Israeli-American aggression against Iran, she presented the President with American assessments that the attack would not lead to regime change, and could lead to Iranian attacks on Gulf states and the economic chaos of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while seriously delaying any deal on Iran's nuclear program.
Ukraine Assessments and European Security Concerns
In Europe, under Gabbard's direction, she repeatedly presented the President, sources report, with estimates that showed the eventual defeat of Ukraine by Russia, regardless of what support Ukraine was given. These estimates, sources report, warned of Russian potential to strike at European NATO targets, including American bases, if the Ukrainians should attack targets deep into Russia.
Clashes with Pentagon War Hawks
Such actions put Gabbard at odds with the lunatic war hawks in the Pentagon, including the messianic moron who is the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, who has attempted, often unsuccessfully, to use the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to counter Gabbard's cautious assessments.
Sources report that Trump sometimes became frustrated with Gabbard for refusing to stovepipe intelligence to tell him what he wanted to hear. But these same sources say that Trump has a deep respect for her and her personal loyalty to him.
Trump Responds to Gabbard’s Departure
Trump responded on Truth Social after the announcement was made public, saying, "Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt that he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."