Trump dismisses Gabbard's testimony on Iran nukes: "I don't care what she said"

Source: Axios

6 hours ago


President Trump on Tuesday said Iran was "very close" to having a nuclear weapon, despite March testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Tehran was not building one.

The big picture: His comments, which critics see as shirking his DNI's own assessment, came after he sent shockwaves through the Middle East with a Monday Truth Social post calling for the evacuation of Tehran.

Israel bombed Iran's nuclear and missile sites during a wave of attacks Thursday, from which the U.S. distanced itself.

An IDF official claimed that in recent weeks, Israel had indications that Iran was racing for a nuclear bomb, Axios' Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler reported. Iran denies it is pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Driving the news: When pressed on Gabbard's assessment by reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump replied, "I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having" a nuclear weapon.

Trump has repeatedly stressed the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Israel wants the administration's help by joining the war against Iran to destroy its nuclear program.

Gabbard, during her opening remarks at a House Intelligence Committee hearing in late March, said that "[t]he IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme leader Khomeini has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003."

She added, "We continue to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program."

What they're saying: A senior intelligence official told Axios' Marc Caputo that Trump's statement does not conflict with Gabbard's testimony because he said the Iranians are "very close" to getting a nuclear weapon and she had said that Iran doesn't yet have one.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/17/trump-gabbard-iran-nuclear-weapon-testimony

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She has joined the Elise Stefanik "Reject Club".