Trump rejects spy chief's take on Iran nuclear program
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is wrong in suggesting there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon, President Donald Trump says.
Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier in 2025 by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
"She's wrong," Trump said on Friday.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the US intelligence community continued to believe that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon.
"The (intelligence community) continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," she said.
On Friday, Gabbard said in a post on X that: "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
She said the media has taken her March testimony "out of context" and was trying to "manufacture division".
The White House has said Trump would weigh involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks.
On Tuesday, Trump made similar comments to reporters about Gabbard's assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified a week of air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets by saying Tehran was on the verge of having a warhead.
Iran denies developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment program is only for peaceful purposes.
In March, Gabbard also described Iran's enriched uranium stockpile as unprecedented for a state without such weapons and said the government was watching the situation closely.
She also said Iran had started discussing nuclear weapons in public, "emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision-making apparatus".
A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters the March assessment presented by Gabbard has not changed.
Trump has frequently disavowed the findings of US intelligence agencies, which he and his supporters have charged - without providing proof - are part of a "deep state" cabal of US officials opposed to his presidency.
Gabbard, a fierce Trump loyalist, has been among the president's backers who have aired such allegations.
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is wrong in suggesting there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon, President Donald Trump says.
Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier in 2025 by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
"She's wrong," Trump said on Friday.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the US intelligence community continued to believe that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon.
"The (intelligence community) continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," she said.
On Friday, Gabbard said in a post on X that: "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
She said the media has taken her March testimony "out of context" and was trying to "manufacture division".
The White House has said Trump would weigh involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks.
On Tuesday, Trump made similar comments to reporters about Gabbard's assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified a week of air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets by saying Tehran was on the verge of having a warhead.
Iran denies developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment program is only for peaceful purposes.
In March, Gabbard also described Iran's enriched uranium stockpile as unprecedented for a state without such weapons and said the government was watching the situation closely.
She also said Iran had started discussing nuclear weapons in public, "emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision-making apparatus".
A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters the March assessment presented by Gabbard has not changed.
Trump has frequently disavowed the findings of US intelligence agencies, which he and his supporters have charged - without providing proof - are part of a "deep state" cabal of US officials opposed to his presidency.
Gabbard, a fierce Trump loyalist, has been among the president's backers who have aired such allegations.
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is wrong in suggesting there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon, President Donald Trump says.
Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier in 2025 by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
"She's wrong," Trump said on Friday.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the US intelligence community continued to believe that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon.
"The (intelligence community) continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," she said.
On Friday, Gabbard said in a post on X that: "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
She said the media has taken her March testimony "out of context" and was trying to "manufacture division".
The White House has said Trump would weigh involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks.
On Tuesday, Trump made similar comments to reporters about Gabbard's assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified a week of air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets by saying Tehran was on the verge of having a warhead.
Iran denies developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment program is only for peaceful purposes.
In March, Gabbard also described Iran's enriched uranium stockpile as unprecedented for a state without such weapons and said the government was watching the situation closely.
She also said Iran had started discussing nuclear weapons in public, "emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision-making apparatus".
A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters the March assessment presented by Gabbard has not changed.
Trump has frequently disavowed the findings of US intelligence agencies, which he and his supporters have charged - without providing proof - are part of a "deep state" cabal of US officials opposed to his presidency.
Gabbard, a fierce Trump loyalist, has been among the president's backers who have aired such allegations.
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is wrong in suggesting there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon, President Donald Trump says.
Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier in 2025 by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
"She's wrong," Trump said on Friday.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the US intelligence community continued to believe that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon.
"The (intelligence community) continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," she said.
On Friday, Gabbard said in a post on X that: "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
She said the media has taken her March testimony "out of context" and was trying to "manufacture division".
The White House has said Trump would weigh involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks.
On Tuesday, Trump made similar comments to reporters about Gabbard's assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified a week of air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets by saying Tehran was on the verge of having a warhead.
Iran denies developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment program is only for peaceful purposes.
In March, Gabbard also described Iran's enriched uranium stockpile as unprecedented for a state without such weapons and said the government was watching the situation closely.
She also said Iran had started discussing nuclear weapons in public, "emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision-making apparatus".
A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters the March assessment presented by Gabbard has not changed.
Trump has frequently disavowed the findings of US intelligence agencies, which he and his supporters have charged - without providing proof - are part of a "deep state" cabal of US officials opposed to his presidency.
Gabbard, a fierce Trump loyalist, has been among the president's backers who have aired such allegations.
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