U.S. President Donald Trump publicly contradicted his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday over her assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities, calling her statement incorrect. The remarks were made during a press briefing, as reported by the BBC.
Trump was questioned by reporters about the basis of his claim that Iran is actively developing nuclear weapons, especially after U.S. intelligence agencies had previously concluded there is insufficient evidence to support such claims.
“If that’s the case, then my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?” Trump asked sharply.
When reporters clarified that the statement came from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the President responded directly: “She’s wrong.”
Back in March, Gabbard told Congress that U.S. intelligence agencies had assessed Iran had not restarted its previously halted nuclear weapons program since 2003. However, she did warn that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium had reached historic highs — a fact that could indicate increasing risks.
This public disagreement highlights internal tensions within the U.S. administration regarding Iran policy and the interpretation of intelligence reports at the highest levels of government.
The dispute between President Trump and DNI Tulsi Gabbard underscores a deep divide within the U.S. government over Iran’s nuclear threat. Contradictory statements from top officials damage the coherence of foreign policy and raise questions among allies and rivals alike. While the uranium buildup in Iran is confirmed, how it is interpreted appears to be a matter of political strategy rather than intelligence consensus.