Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US spy chief citing husband's cancer
Insider says she was forced out despite official cancer reason.
Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as US Director of National Intelligence on Friday, saying her husband Abraham Williams had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and she needed to step away to care for him. She advised President Trump during an Oval Office meeting, and the resignation takes effect June 30. Gabbard served 16 months since her February 2025 swearing-in, calling herself an "America First patriot" in her resignation letter.
However, a source familiar with the matter said Gabbard had actually been forced out by the White House. White House spokesman Davis Ingle publicly supported the official narrative, praising Gabbard's service. The conflicting accounts reflect ongoing turbulence in Trump's cabinet, with Gabbard becoming the latest senior official to exit amid internal friction. Her departure leaves a key intelligence post vacant during a period of heightened global tensions.
- Gabbard resigned as Director of National Intelligence, effective June 30, citing husband's rare bone cancer diagnosis.
- A source familiar says she was forced out by the White House, contradicting the official reason.
- She served 16 months since appointment in February 2025; White House spokesman praised her as 'America First patriot'.
Why It Matters
Another Trump cabinet exit raises questions about internal stability and intelligence leadership amid global tensions.