We were on the air this afternoon when news broke that Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) was resigning.
Instant reaction above and additional thoughts below.
(1) Not a Surprise
The former congresswoman, who sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, indicated the decision was a result of her husband’s illness; he was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. There is, however, context and history here which suggests that she might have been out regardless. It is well known that Trump has for weeks been publicly and privately polling people about whether Gabbard should be replaced. We also have reports that it was Roger Stone who, in April, convinced Trump not to fire her. While she remained, her colleague, head of the National Center for Counterterrorism, Joe Kent resigned noting that he could not in “good conscience” continue in the position and support the war in Iran because the nation “posed no imminent threat to our nation.” These are views Gabbard presumably shares, although she has not been as vocal on them of late. Finally, even though she was DNI she has been largely missing from public discussions of Venezuela and Iran. This and more suggests that her ouster was only a matter of time.
As Joe Mathieu noted, it wasn’t that long ago that Gabbard was pushing “No War With Iran” t-shirts (perhaps you can still find them online).
(2) If not a Win for the Neocons, another Nail in the Coffin for the America Firsters’
I argue this is a win for the Neocons (see definition below). Arguably from a policy perspective they have won already - just look at Venezuela, what is going on in Cuba, the threats to Greenland and most notably, Iran. So perhaps it is better to say it is another nail in the coffin for those like Gabbard, Kent, Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and other ‘American Firsters’; those who stand in stark opposition to the interventionist, hawkish approach to foreign policy that has come to define Trump’s second term.
What is a Neocon or Neoconservative (c/o Ebsco)
“Neoconservatism is a political ideology primarily associated with the advocacy of a strong military and an interventionist foreign policy aimed at spreading democratic values globally. Emphasizing the use of American military power to address perceived threats, neoconservatives, often referred to as “neocons,” believe in preemptive action to protect U.S. interests. The movement emerged in the late 20th century, with influential figures like Irving Kristol, who is regarded as its “godfather,” shaping its core principles.” Read more at Ebsco
(3) Kristi, Pam, Lori & Now Tulsi - Women of the Cabinet
Gabbard is the 4th woman to resign from Trump’s cabinet in the last few months. She follows Pam Bondi (Attorney General, Department of Justice), Kristi Noem (Secretary, Department of Homeland Security) and Lori Chavez-DeReme (Secretary of Labor, Labor Department).
4 women remain: Susie Wiles (Chief of Staff), Linda McMahon (Education Secretary), Kelly Loeffler (Small Business Administration) and Brooke Rollins (Agriculture Secretary). While not a member of the Cabinet, it is also worth noting Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
Even prior to Gabbard’s resignation many questions were raised about the number of high profile women who have left Trump’s cabinet. It’s not so much a question as to why they were ousted or chose to resign, rather why male members of the cabinet facing similar headwinds remain ( i.e., Howard Lutnik, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, etc.)?
