Trump dismisses Gabbard's testimony on Iran nukes: "I don't care what she said"
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President Trump talks to reporters on board Air Force One with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after leaving early from the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16 in Calgary, Alberta. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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.
- "There's a distinction. Just because they don't have one does not mean that they don't want to build one," the official said.
- A spokeswoman for Gabbard pointed to her remarks to reporters saying she's "on the same page" as Trump and faulting "too many people in the media" for what she said were misconstrued remarks.
Catch up quick: Trump on Monday urged "[e]veryone" to evacuate Tehran shortly after the White House announced he would be leaving the G7 summit early.
- It wasn't immediately obvious what triggered the post, in which Trump demanded "IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON."
- Asked the reasoning behind his call for an evacuation, Trump said Tuesday, "I just want people to be safe."
Zoom out: Trump told reporters he wanted a "real end" to the conflict, rather than a "ceasefire."
- Asked if he was open to negotiating with the Iranians, Trump stressed Tehran "should have done the deal" and added, "I'm not too much in a mood to negotiate."
- But Axios' Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo reported Tuesday that the White House is discussing the possibility of a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Marc Caputo contributed reporting.
Go deeper: Trump to hold Situation Room meeting on Iran
