Gabbard present in Situation Room during US strikes on Iranian facilities
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present in the Situation Room on Saturday during the successful strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, a White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday morning. Gabbard, who is considered a key player on President Donald Trump’s national security team, was among the officials present during the military operation.
Speculation had arisen about a potential rift between Gabbard and Trump after the president publicly stated that Gabbard was “wrong” in her testimony before the Senate back in March, where she asserted that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. Despite not being visible in the photos released from the Situation Room on Saturday, the White House confirmed that Gabbard was indeed present during the operation.
Trump’s comments in June, where he dismissed Gabbard’s intelligence on Iran, raised questions about their alignment on the issue. However, the White House emphasized that Trump and Gabbard were in sync regarding Iran, despite any perceived differences in their statements.
Gabbard’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee in March had indicated that Iran was not currently building a nuclear weapon. She also highlighted the cyber threats posed by Iran and its support for terrorist groups in the region. While critics scrutinized her past remarks, the White House reiterated that Gabbard’s testimony aligned with Trump’s stance on Iran.
In response to the media’s interpretation of her testimony, Gabbard took to social media to clarify her position and denounced the spread of fake news. She emphasized that Iran had the capability to produce a nuclear weapon within a short timeframe if they chose to do so, echoing Trump’s stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
On Saturday, Trump announced the successful strikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran, declaring them a “spectacular military success.” He underscored the threat posed by Iran as a state sponsor of terror and expressed the need to neutralize their nuclear capabilities. The strikes were aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and forcing the country to engage in peace negotiations.
As the nation awaited further updates on the situation, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was contacted for additional comments but had not responded at the time of writing. The successful military operation marked a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, with Gabbard playing a pivotal role in the decision-making process.
