JD Vance hails Tulsi Gabbard after DNI resignation: 'A great asset to the administration'

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance on Friday, May 22, praised Tulsi Gabbard after she announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence, calling her “a patriot” and “a great asset” to the Trump administration.

Gabbard said she would step down at the end of June due to a family medical crisis involving her husband, Abraham Williams, who was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.

President Donald Trump later confirmed the resignation and announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would serve as acting DNI following Gabbard’s departure. The resignation marks a major leadership change within the intelligence department, less than two years into Trump’s second term.

JD Vance praises Tulsi Gabbard as 'a loyal confidante' after resignation announcement

Shortly after Gabbard made her announcement public, Vance posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) expressing support for her and her family. “Tulsi is a patriot, a great asset to the administration, and a dear friend,” the vice president wrote. “I'm sorry to see her go but certainly understand that family comes first.”

He added that Gabbard and her husband “will be in my prayers as they face this next challenge together,” while thanking her for being “a great addition to the administration and a loyal confidante.”

Trump also responded publicly after the resignation became official. In a Truth Social post, the president praised Gabbard’s work leading the intelligence community and acknowledged the circumstances behind her decision. “Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th,” he wrote. 

Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman and Army veteran, had served as Director of National Intelligence since February 2025 after joining Trump’s Cabinet during his second administration. 

Tulsi Gabbard cites husband’s cancer diagnosis in resignation letter

Gabbard reportedly informed Trump of her decision during a White House meeting before publicly releasing her resignation letter on social media on Friday afternoon. In the letter, she described the decision as deeply personal and centered around her husband’s health battle.

“I'm deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half,” Gabbard wrote. She formally confirmed that her resignation would take effect on June 30, 2026.

Gabbard explained that Williams is facing “major challenges in the coming weeks and months” following his diagnosis with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.” She added, “At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle." 

Gabbard described her husband as “my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage,” noting his support during military deployments, election campaigns, and her time serving in government. She referenced her deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission and reflected on the role Williams played throughout her public life.