(The Center Square) President Donald Trump appears to break from his intelligence director on earlier claims that Iran wasn’t producing military weapons.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in March, while speaking before a Senate intelligence briefing, that Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon.
However, as Trump was briefing reporters on Air Force One early Tuesday morning en route back to the White House, he said Iran was close to getting a nuclear weapon, contradicting Gabbard’s earlier claims.
“I don’t care what she said. They were very close to getting a nuke,” Trump told reporters.
REPORTER: Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community said Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon.
TRUMP: I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having one. pic.twitter.com/KIQPfC1vMh
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) June 17, 2025
In March, Gabbard said the intelligence community was assessing the nuclear situation in Iran.
“Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003,” Gabbard said.
The president made the comments as he returned early from the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada.
Trump told reporters he was headed directly back to the White House and the situation room to deal with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, after the two countries enter a fifth day of fighting.
The White House has denied reports of trying to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, while also quashing reports that the U.S. was entering the fight.
