Vice President JD Vance stood up on behalf of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, calling her a "patriot."
Gabbard was seemingly called out by President Donald Trump on Tuesday during an exchange with a reporter on the topic of Iran potentially constructing a nuclear weapon. When reminded that Gabbard had testified before a House committee in March that Iran was not developing a nuke, Trump replied, "I don't care what she said." And then countered with "I think they were very close to having one."
In a short statement reported by The Hill, Vance said, "Tulsi is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of Pres Trump and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024."
He concluded with, "She's an essential member of our nat sec team, & we're grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats."
Iran's nuclear material enrichment program is at the heart of Israel's ongoing military strikes against those enrichment sites and top Iranian leaders that began late Thursday. The military action got underway after negotiations over Iran's nuclear program stalled. There's no evidence the U.S. has had a direct role in the strikes, but Trump has threatened Iran and demanded that Iran surrender.
The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spoke defiantly on Wednesday and said the country would "never surrender" and promised "irreparable damage" if the U.S. got involved.
This is not the first time Vance has gone public with supportive comments about Gabbard. In an interview on CBS in late January, not long after being sworn in, Vance said Gabbard was perfectly suited for the position as DNI, with "impeccable" character and would "bring some trust back to the intelligence services."
Gabbard defended herself Tuesday, telling reporters that she and the President "are on the same page."
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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