Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her position as the United States (US) Director of National Intelligence, stepping down from her role in the administration of Donald Trump, according to media reports.
Gabbard announced on Friday that she would be leaving her post, citing her husband’s recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer as the primary reason for her decision. Her resignation will take effect on June 30.
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In her resignation letter posted on X, she expressed gratitude to Trump for the trust placed in her and said she was honoured to have led the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the past year and a half.
Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as US Director of National Intelligence, citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
Her departure comes after months of tensions inside the Trump administration over foreign policy and intelligence matters, including the decision to strike Iran. pic.twitter.com/cukgwYM4FH
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 23, 2026
She stated that she could not, “in good conscience,” ask her husband to face his illness alone while she continued in a demanding and time-consuming role. Reports indicated that she informed the president of her decision during a meeting at the Oval Office.
A source familiar with the matter suggested that Gabbard may have also been under pressure from the White House, although no official confirmation of this claim has been provided.
Following her resignation, Trump announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would serve as acting director.
In public remarks, Trump praised Gabbard’s service and said her decision was understandable given her family circumstances. He acknowledged her contribution to the intelligence community during her tenure.
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Gabbard’s time in office was occasionally marked by reported differences with the administration, particularly regarding foreign policy approaches toward Iran and its nuclear programme.
Her resignation marks a significant change in the leadership of the US intelligence community at a time of heightened global security challenges and ongoing geopolitical tensions.