Tulsi Gabbard Faces White House Backlash Over Nuclear War Warning Video

Washington, D.C. – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has ignited controversy within the Trump administration following the release of a stark social media video warning of the dangers of nuclear conflict. The three-minute video, posted to her personal account, features Gabbard’s reflections from a recent visit to Hiroshima, Japan, and includes a simulation of a nuclear attack on San Francisco, graphically illustrating the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war.

In the video, Gabbard warns that “political elite and warmongers are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers,” arguing that the world is “closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation than ever before.” She calls on the public to “reject this path to nuclear war and work toward a world where no one has to live in fear of a nuclear holocaust”.

The timing and content of Gabbard’s message have drawn sharp criticism from within the White House. President Donald Trump, who has recently faced pressure from Israel hawks to support military action against Iran’s nuclear program, reportedly viewed Gabbard’s video as an attempt to steer him away from endorsing Israeli strikes on Iran. According to administration sources, Trump was “incensed” by what he perceived as Gabbard speaking out of turn and potentially contradicting his foreign policy stance.

Tensions escalated further after the White House circulated an edited video clip of Gabbard discussing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which some critics labeled as misleading. The clip was used to bolster the case that Tehran was nearing nuclear weapon capability, in contrast to Gabbard’s more measured assessment during a recent Congressional hearing, where she downplayed the immediate threat posed by Iran.

Gabbard’s allies, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have defended her as a patriot and a crucial voice within the administration, citing her military service and commitment to national security. However, the episode has highlighted deepening ideological divides within the Trump administration over the direction of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding military intervention and nuclear nonproliferation.

Editorials and commentators have weighed in on the controversy, with some accusing Gabbard of distorting historical context and undermining U.S. resolve against adversaries like Iran and Russia. Others see her warning as a principled stand against escalation and a call for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent nuclear catastrophe.

As debate continues, the fallout from Gabbard’s video underscores the challenges facing the administration as it navigates high-stakes decisions on nuclear policy and global security.