Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced a wave of online criticism on Tuesday after breaking her silence following the resignation of her top aide Joe Kent, who stepped down over disagreements with President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran.
Gabbard, long associated with anti-war views, drew sharp reactions from users who questioned her stance. Comments flooded in, including one that read, “Are these T-shirts still available for sale?” alongside an image displaying the slogan “NO WAR WITH IRAN.”
Another user wrote, “Wow. You are licking the boot too, huh. You had a real opportunity here to show you were truly AMERICA FIRST, and instead you have done the opposite. You are a HYPOCRITE of the highest order, sad to say.”
“I’d love to buy one of those “No Iran War ” Shirts if you’re still selling them Tulsi…., No? ” another user added.
READ: As Shantanu Narayen exits, will MAGA backlash produce fewer ‘Shantanus’ in corporate America? (
The backlash quickly snowballed, with many calling out what they saw as hypocrisy and a stark shift in Gabbard’s stance. For critics, the contrast between her long-held anti-war image and her recent remarks was hard to ignore.
Several users went a step further, openly urging her to resign. One wrote, “We would respect you more if you stepped down and told the truth. You just lost all support. Except for Mark Levin and Ben Shapiro. You will have their support. Forever more you will be known as a traitor”
Another user accused her of abandoning her earlier position, writing, “You are a disgrace and a liar. Everything you said leading up to your current appointment, you have reneged on.”
A third questioned her motives, adding, “Why are you running cover for him? I thought you had more integrity than that. Figured you would’ve resigned by now.”
In her first public statement on the issue, Gabbard said, “Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country.
“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions.
READ: India Today faces online backlash for inviting Laura Loomer to 2026 Conclave; Mehdi Hasan reacts (
“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion.”
Meanwhile, Kent, in his resignation letter to Trump, reportedly argued that Iran posed no immediate threat to the United States and said that “we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby”.
Kent, a senior counterterrorism official and director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down on Tuesday in protest against how the Trump administration is handling the conflict with Iran, becoming one of the highest-ranking officials to publicly break ranks amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Appointed by Trump in July 2025, Kent said he could no longer support a war he believes is neither justified nor necessary. In his resignation letter, shared on social media, he stated that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation.”
His departure, coupled with Gabbard’s statement backing the administration’s position, has intensified scrutiny and reinforced perceptions of a widening divide within the leadership.