Leak Scandal & Trump’s Frustration
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President Trump is furious about a leak of a U.S. intelligence report that claims the recent “bunker buster” strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites had minimal impact.
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The leak, reported by CNN and the New York Times, undermines the official White House narrative that the operation was a major success.
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Trump has accused members of Congress and White House insiders of being behind the leak, prompting a clampdown on intelligence briefings.
Tulsi Gabbard Under Scrutiny
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Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), is reportedly being blamed or “put in the line of fire” by Trump and his team as the suspected leak source.
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She was sidelined before a key congressional briefing on the Iran strikes, excluded alongside key figures like Rubio, Hegseth, and Ratcliffe.
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Gabbard has publicly defended the strikes and Trump’s narrative, contradicting media reports and reaffirming that the strikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
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Despite Trump’s public criticism of her intelligence assessments, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended Gabbard, calling her an “important member” of the national security team.
Pentagon Press Conference Highlights
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the media for amplifying a “preliminary” DIA assessment that questions the strike’s effectiveness.
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Hegseth emphasized the report’s low confidence, incomplete data, and possible agenda behind the leak to “muddy the water” and downplay the strike’s success.
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, confirmed that the U.S. evacuated bases after receiving warnings of Iranian retaliation, reinforcing the seriousness of the operation and aftermath.
