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Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as United States Director of National Intelligence, according to her resignation letter posted on her X account. Gabbard, who served under President Donald Trump, cited her husband's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer as the reason for her departure.

In her letter, Gabbard told Trump she was "deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half." She said her resignation would take effect on June 30.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple outlets reported the resignation on Friday, May 22, 2026. Al Jazeera described the resignation as brief and to the point, noting Gabbard cited her husband's cancer diagnosis. The BBC and France 24 both emphasized the resignation's timing and Gabbard's background as a former Democrat and Army National Guard veteran. The Guardian framed her tenure as "tumultuous" and "unconventional," highlighting her norm-breaking actions and her relationship with Trump. The Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu all reported the resignation with a neutral tone, focusing on the letter and the effective date.

Key Claims

  • Resignation and effective date: Gabbard's resignation is effective June 30, as stated in her resignation letter. This was reported by The Hindu, South China Morning Post, and others.
  • Reason for resignation: Gabbard cited her husband's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. She wrote that she "must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle." This was reported by multiple outlets, including Al Jazeera and France 24.
  • Gabbard's background: Gabbard is a former Democrat and Army National Guard veteran. This was noted by the BBC and France 24.
  • Tensions within the administration: Al Jazeera reported that Gabbard's departure came after months of tensions inside the Trump administration over foreign policy and intelligence matters, including the decision to strike Iran. The Guardian also noted that Gabbard was excluded from key national security conversations, citing people familiar with the office.
  • Acting director: President Trump said in a social media post that Aaron Lukas, the principal deputy director, would serve as acting director of national intelligence. This was reported by the Jerusalem Post and the BBC.

Perspectives

Gabbard's Perspective

In her resignation letter, Gabbard expressed gratitude to Trump, saying she was "deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity." She said she must step away to support her husband, adding that she is "fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition."

Trump's Perspective

Trump acknowledged her resignation in a Truth Social post, saying Gabbard "has done an incredible job, and we will miss her." He also stated that she "rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together."

Administration Tensions

The Guardian reported that Gabbard became increasingly sidelined by Trump, who excluded her from key national security conversations on Iran and Venezuela. An expert told The Guardian that "she had been playing on the outskirts of the inner circle for a while." Al Jazeera also noted tensions over the decision to strike Iran, which caused division within the administration.

Corrections and Updates

This article was published on May 22, 2026. No corrections have been issued.