Trump disavows spy chief Tulsi Gabbard's take on Iran's nuclear programme
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (centre) told Congress in March that was not working on a nuclear warhead. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on June 20 that his Director of National Intelligence, Ms Tulsi Gabbard, was wrong in suggesting there is no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon.
Mr Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier this year by his spy chief that Tehran was not working on a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
'She's wrong,' Mr Trump said.
Ms Gabbard testified to Congress in March that the US intelligence community continued to judge that Tehran was not working on a nuclear warhead.
Mr Trump's comments came as the president has said he would weigh involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified a week of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets by saying Tehran was on the verge of having a warhead.
Ms Gabbard's office has previously pointed to quotes from the spy chief saying that she and Mr Trump were 'on the same page' regarding the status of Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran denies developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment programme was only for peaceful purposes.
A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters that the assessment presented by Ms Gabbard had not changed.
They said US spy services also judged that it would take up to three years for Iran to build a warhead with which it could hit a target of its choice.
Some experts, however, believe it could take Iran a much shorter time to build and deliver an untested crude nuclear device, although there would be no guarantee it would work.
Mr Trump has frequently disavowed the findings of US intelligence agencies, which he and his supporters have charged - without providing proof - are part of a 'deep state' cabal of US officials opposed to his presidency.
The Republican president repeatedly clashed with US spy agencies during his first term, including over an assessment that Moscow worked to sway the 2016 presidential vote in his favour and his acceptance of Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials.
Ms Gabbard, a fierce Trump loyalist, has been among the president's backers who have aired such allegations. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump confirms DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal, gripes about Nobel Peace Prize snub
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (centre), Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (right) and Democratic Republic of the Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner sign a Declaration of Principles between the two countries in Washington, DC, on April 25. PHOTO: AFP WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump took credit on June 20 for a peace deal negotiated in Washington between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda – and complained that he would not get a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The warring African nations said in a joint statement on June 18 that they had initialled an agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC – to be formally signed in the US capital next week. 'This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World!' Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post confirming the breakthrough. But his triumphant tone darkened as he complained that he had been overlooked by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for his mediating role in conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo. He also demanded credit for 'keeping peace' between Egypt and Ethiopia and brokering the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements aiming to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Mr Trump campaigned during the 2024 US presidential election as a 'peacemaker' who would use his negotiating skills to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, although both conflicts are still raging five months into his presidency. Indian officials have denied that he had any role in its ceasefire with Pakistan. And the Republican greatly exaggerated the significance of the 2020 Serbia-Kosovo agreements, which were statements of intent thin on detail and that quickly unravelled. Mr Trump's claims for the Abraham Accords being able to 'unify the Middle East' have also yet to be realised, with war breaking out between Israel and Iran, and no end in sight to the conflict in Gaza. The president said officials from DR Congo and Rwanda would be in Washington on June 23 for their signing, although their joint statement said they would put pen to paper on June 27. The resource-rich eastern DRC, which borders Rwanda, has been plagued by violence for three decades, with a resurgence since the anti-government M23 armed group went on a renewed offensive at the end of 2021. The deal – which builds on a declaration of principles signed in April – was reached during three days of talks between the neighbours in Washington, according to their statement. Mr Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations from supporters and loyal lawmakers over the years. He has made no secret of his irritation at missing out on the prestigious award, bringing it up as recently as February during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Barack Obama won the prize soon after taking office in 2009, and Mr Trump complained during his 2024 election campaign that his Democratic predecessor was not worthy of the honour. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump floats firing ‘numbskull' Fed chair Jerome Powell
Mr Jerome Powell's term as chairman of the US Federal Reserve does not conclude until next year. PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on June 20 – publicly mulling whether to fire the official and appoint himself to the central bank. The Republican leader, who regularly berates Mr Powell over the bank's decisions not to lower interest rates, took to Truth Social to smear the banker as a 'numbskull,' 'moron' and 'obvious Trump Hater'. 'I fully understand that my strong criticism of him makes it more difficult for him to do what he should be doing, lowering Rates, but I've tried it all different ways,' said Mr Trump, who appointed Mr Powell during his first term. 'I've been nice, I've been neutral, and I've been nasty, and nice and neutral didn't work!' Mr Powell's term does not conclude until next year. He has said his dismissal would be unlawful, and that he has no intention of stepping down voluntarily if Mr Trump asks. 'I don't know why the Board doesn't override this Total and Complete Moron!' Mr Trump posted. 'Maybe, just maybe, I'll have to change my mind about firing him? But regardless, his Term ends shortly!' Mr Trump lashed out after the Fed held interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive meeting on June 18, forecasting higher inflation and cooler growth as Trump's tariffs take hold. The projections were its first since Mr Trump unleashed sweeping 10 per cent tariffs on almost all trading partners in April. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Japan scraps US meeting after Washington demands more defence spending: report
[WASHINGTON] Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally, the United States, after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Friday (Jun 20). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet their Japanese counterparts in Washington on Jul 1 for annual 2+2 security talks. But Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US side asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent, the paper cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter, including two officials in Tokyo, as saying. A US official who did not want to be identified confirmed Japan had 'postponed' the talks but said the decision was made several weeks ago. The source did not cite a reason. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting, but not the reason for it doing so. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said she had no comment on the FT report when asked about it at the regular briefing, and the Pentagon also had no immediate comment. Japan's embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The Financial Times said the new higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called in his nomination hearing to be under secretary of defence for policy, for Tokyo to spend more to counter China. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over US President Donald Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The FT said the decision to cancel the Jul 1 meeting was also related to Japan's Jul 20 Upper House elections, at which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to suffer a loss of seats. It comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led Nato alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. REUTERS
