Tulsi Gabbard makes tepid statement supporting Trump after top deputy quits over Iran

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard indicated tepid support for President Donald Trump. Still, she did not endorse the war in Iran following the resignation of Joe Kent, one of her top deputies.

"After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today," Kent said in an X post on Tuesday. "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

In a statement hours later, Gabbard spelled out her role in the war.

"Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief," she said. "As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country."

"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions," she added. "After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion."

Gabbard, however, was careful not to endorse the war.