Tulsi Gabbard resigning as U.S. Director of National Intelligence
· Toronto Sun
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Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s Director of National Intelligence, saying she needs to focus on helping her husband through a serious cancer battle.
In a resignation letter posted Friday on X, Gabbard said her husband, Abraham Williams, was recently diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” and that she could no longer balance the demands of one of the country’s top intelligence jobs with supporting him through treatment.
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.”
POTUS swiftly offers support
Trump responded with a public message of support and announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas will temporarily take over the role.
“Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together,” Trump wrote on Truth Social , adding that Gabbard had done “an incredible job, and we will miss her.”
Gabbard becomes the fourth cabinet official to leave during Trump’s second term. Her departure also comes after months of speculation about tensions inside the administration over Trump’s decision to strike Iran, according to CTV News .
A rocky tenure
An army veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard built much of her political reputation on opposing foreign wars. That made her position especially complicated after the U.S. joined Israel in launching attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
During a congressional hearing in March, Gabbard notably avoided fully backing Trump’s military decision. She repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether the White House had been warned about possible fallout from the conflict, including Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The divisions inside Trump’s national security team had already become public earlier this year. Joe Kent resigned in March, saying he “cannot in good conscience” support the war effort .
“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said at the time.
‘I can’t in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone’
Still, as recently as two weeks ago, Gabbard was reportedly denying she planned to leave the administration, CNN reported , citing a senior administration official.
In her resignation letter, Gabbard emphasized that her decision was deeply personal and rooted in loyalty to her husband.
“Abraham has been my rock throughout our 11 years of marriage — standing steadfast through my deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission, multiple political campaigns, and now my service in this role,” she wrote.
“His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge. I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.”
Her exit follows Trump’s recent removals of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi .
Gabbard had also drawn attention last month after submitting criminal referrals to the U.S. Department of Justice targeting whistleblower and former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who played a role in Trump’s 2019 impeachment inquiry. The referrals alleged procedural violations and political bias , based on declassified documents.