Trump Weighed Firing Gabbard, Backed Off After Roger Stone Intervention

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump weighed removing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard following internal frustration over her congressional testimony on Iran but ultimately held off after intervention from longtime adviser Roger Stone, according to Axios.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and military veteran, has long expressed skepticism toward U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts. Her past comments warning against rising tensions between nuclear powers had previously drawn irritation from Trump,

Trump’s dissatisfaction centered on Gabbard’s reluctance to fully endorse the administration’s posture on a potential Iran conflict during recent testimony, Axios reported, citing multiple advisers who had spoken with the president. The concerns were compounded by the resignation of Joe Kent, a former Gabbard adviser, which drew attention at a sensitive moment for the administration’s messaging, according to Axios.

In a private meeting shortly afterward, Trump reprimanded Gabbard and questioned her loyalty, sources told Axios. He also began informally consulting aides about her performance and whether she should remain in the role, reflecting a period of internal uncertainty.

Support for Gabbard within the Cabinet, along with direct advocacy from Stone, proved decisive. He warned that removing her could trigger a negative political cycle and elevate her standing among segments of Trump’s base already uneasy about military escalation, Axios reported.

According to individuals familiar with his outreach, Stone further suggested that firing Gabbard could unintentionally position her as a future political rival, potentially complicating the path for Vice President JD Vance in a future Republican primary contest.

Stone’s support for Gabbard has clashed with criticism from Trump’s other loyalist, Laura Loomer, who has questioned Gabbard’s loyalty and objected to her past personnel choices.