When Fiction Makes Headlines: The Trump–Gabbard ‘Feud’ That Wasn’t

It started with a hearing and ended with a headline—none of which matched what was actually said. During the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered a measured assessment: “Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon. Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a program since 2003.” She also warned that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had reached unprecedented levels and that the regime could break out within weeks to months if it chose.

In other words: not building a bomb now—but they’re dangerously close if they decide to.

Then came the press conference. A reporter, in a moment of elegant distortion, asked President Trump: “Your Director of Intelligence says Iran is not enriching uranium for a nuclear bomb—do you agree with that?” That wasn’t what Gabbard had said. She acknowledged the uranium enrichment; she questioned intent, not capability.

Trump, predictably, disagreed—with the question, not his own DNI. But the soundbite was too good to resist. Suddenly, headlines screamed: 🗞️ “Trump Disagrees with His Intelligence Chief on Iran” 🗞️ “White House at Odds Over Nuclear Threat” 🗞️ “Gabbard Undermined by President on Global Stage”

Except… there was no disagreement. Just a reporter quoting a condensed version of Gabbard’s comments, which Trump responded to as if they were accurate. The “rift” was an illusion born from a misquote—and the echo chamber hasn’t stopped since.