By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was notably absent from a recent Senate intelligence briefing, raising questions about her standing within the administration. This exclusion follows President Trump’s public disagreement with Gabbard’s past assertions regarding Iran’s nuclear program and a damaging intelligence leak that weakened the White House’s claims about a recent strike. A senior White House official downplayed her absence, while Michael Wolff suggested her position is precarious due to the fallout from the intelligence leak. The original report stated Gabbard’s public backing of Trump’s statements, which contradict intelligence assessments, has been challenged.
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The Director of National Intelligence being dropped from an intelligence briefing… it’s a head-scratcher, to say the least. It immediately raises questions about the state of affairs within the administration. How can anyone trust a leader whose loyalty seems to be a one-way street? The surprise, even from those who have watched this movie before, is astonishing. They’ve seen the predictable pattern of discarding and vilifying, yet still, they express surprise. This whole situation feels less about a leak and more about a blatant disagreement with the President’s views on Iran.
The timing seems particularly pointed, given Trump’s public disagreement with Gabbard’s testimony about Iran. It all adds to the feeling of a rapidly deteriorating situation. Her removal also follows the purging of the National Security Council, which leads you to wonder who is actually feeding the President intelligence. Is it just Israel now? Or perhaps Moscow? The lack of a clear answer paints a picture of dysfunction.
It’s almost comical how the administration is stumbling over itself. The “leak” is either real, in which case the information is, presumably, accurate, or it’s a fabrication. But it can’t be both. And yet, here we are. It’s like we’re watching a slow-motion car crash. The most concerning aspect of this is the potential for misinterpretations of intelligence and that potentially very dangerous decisions are being made without proper understanding.
It is truly a remarkable situation to consider the Director of National Intelligence, whose job is to possess crucial information, is excluded from briefings. If there is indeed a leak, there must be a basis in fact. Conversely, if the President is reacting based on something that isn’t true, he is raging about something that’s not happening. This is a testament to the lack of seriousness and the dysfunction that characterizes the administration.
The situation also exposes the vulnerability of those who seek favor with Trump. This feels a lot like a high-stakes game where loyalty is fleeting, and anyone can be thrown under the bus. It is a sad display of someone who was trying to get on the right side of things but now is being punished. The constant turnover, the acting positions, it all points to a government struggling to function efficiently.
The irony is that this whole mess is an absolute benefit to all who disagree with the administration, and its ineptitude is a great source of amusement. The President’s habit of firing anyone who doesn’t completely agree with him is not a recipe for success. If you hire the best and then fire them, how can you succeed? The reality is, this is a reflection of the entire administration.
It also begs the question, who will take on her role? The thought is terrifying. There’s little doubt that there will be more dismissals and controversies. It makes you wonder how long anyone can last in the administration. The administration’s actions continue to make the US look like anything but a serious country.