Trump polled advisers about replacing Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief

Source: The Guardian

Thu 2 Apr 2026 06.00 EDT
Last modified on Thu 2 Apr 2026 06.01 EDT


Donald Trump has privately asked cabinet officials in recent weeks whether he should replace his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, venting frustration that she shielded a former deputy who undercut his rationale for war with Iran, according to two people briefed on the discussions.

It is not clear that Trump will actually fire Gabbard over the episode. Currently, there is no standout candidate to take the job, and advisers have cautioned that creating a high-profile vacancy before a successor is ready could cause unhelpful political distractions.

But Trump's discussions marks an ominous development for Gabbard, given the president tends to poll his advisers when he starts to seriously consider whether a personnel change is necessary. The two people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Trump's doubts about Gabbard followed her testimony at the world wide threats hearing on Capitol Hill last month where she declined to condemn Joe Kent, who had resigned days earlier after arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States, the people said. The nature of Kent's departure and his criticism of the war had already angered Trump, but he expressed particular frustration about Gabbard seemingly defending Kent and appearing reluctant to defend the administration's position to attack Iran, the people said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/02/trump-tulsi-gabbard-intelligence-chief

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The (expected) purge of women begins.

TALLY (can be added to)

Noem - check
Bondi - getting there
Gabbard - getting there
McMahon - (in a Department that is being dismantled)
Lake - self-destructing
Pirro - definitely on the list
Habba - possible
Leavitt - reasons are starting to accumulate