Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard kicked up another firestorm with the media today.
She posted a tweet accusing Washington Post reporter Ellen Nakashima of crossing the line by using a fake identity, a burner phone, and even pressuring intelligence staffers for sensitive information.
It was a bold accusation. But what’s really behind it?
Gabbard isn’t new to headlines.
She’s a former Democrat from Hawaii who once ran for president. Now she’s serving under President Trump as Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
That’s a big job. She’s in charge of making sure America’s spies and intel officers are doing their job and keeping the country safe.
Gabbard has shaken things up since taking over. She’s fired officials, tightened control over information, and cracked down on leaks – especially leaks that make Trump’s policies look bad.
Some say she’s making the intelligence community more focused. Others say she’s making it too political.
Now she’s calling out Nakashima, a longtime reporter at the Washington Post who’s won big journalism awards.
Nakashima has written several stories critical of Gabbard – especially about how she’s handling internal oversight and classified information.
In her tweet, Gabbard said Nakashima used a burner phone, didn’t say who she really was, and tried to pressure top-level intel officers for info – without going through the proper press channels.
Gabbard also claims this reporter harassed her family in Hawaii.
She even accused the Washington Post of running a “political op” to mess with the Trump administration by leaking classified info and trying to smear officials like her.
That’s a serious charge.
The problem? Gabbard hasn’t shown any public proof yet.
And some former reporters – like David Weigel, who also worked at the Post – are calling her claims “not credible.”
So far, Nakashima hasn’t said anything in response, and neither has the Washington Post.
Critics are pushing back hard.
Some folks on X are saying Gabbard sounds more like a dictator than a public servant. One user even compared her to using “Kremlin tactics,” saying this kind of attack could scare reporters away from doing their jobs.
Others argue this is just another move to distract people from Gabbard’s own missteps.
Remember, she’s had some very public disagreements with Trump, especially over Iran. She testified in March that Iran wasn’t trying to build a nuclear bomb, which went against Trump’s narrative.
That made waves – and not in a good way.
She’s also made a lot of staffing changes at the ODNI and has even been left out of key meetings.
So some people think this tweet was more about saving face than sounding the alarm.
On the flip side, many conservatives are cheering her on.
They say the mainstream media, especially places like the Washington Post, have had it out for Trump and his team since day one.
They point to past stories based on leaked documents – like those questioning Trump’s deportation policies or military action in Iran – and say those leaks put national security at risk.
Some folks online, including journalists like Breanna Morello, say if Nakashima really did what Gabbard claims, then it’s not just a bad look – it’s journalistic misconduct.
Whether you believe Gabbard or not, her tweet hits a nerve.
A lot of Americans – especially conservatives – feel like they can’t trust the media. They see a double standard.
When classified leaks hurt Trump, the press calls it “whistleblowing.” But when someone in Trump’s circle pushes back, they’re painted as dangerous.
This is about more than just one tweet or one reporter. It’s about trust – trust in our intelligence agencies, in the media, and in who’s really telling the truth.
Gabbard wants people to believe she’s rooting out corruption and fighting media bias. Her critics say she’s doing damage to institutions and trying to scare reporters into silence.
The truth? It probably lies somewhere in the middle.
What’s clear is this feud is only getting hotter. For now, we’ll wait and see if any solid evidence backs up Gabbard’s claims.
Until then, it’s a war of words – one tweet at a time.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
