Tense Situation Room photos show Donald Trump flanked by top aides as US bombs Iranian nuclear sites
WASHINGTON, DC: Suspense hung thick over the Situation Room as President Donald Trump and his inner circle watched US military aircraft striking three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The photos released by the White House looked intense. Trump was seated, rocking his signature suit and red “Make America Great Again” hat, flanked by top brass like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
But amid all the stoic faces, there was one notable absence. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, was nowhere to be seen in the official photos.
Given that the pair had just gone head-to-head in public over Iran’s nuclear intentions, Gabbard's absence didn't go unnoticed.
Donald Trump vs Tulsi Gabbard
Just days earlier, things got a bit icy between Trump and Gabbard over whether Iran was gearing up for a nuke.
Gabbard, the former Democrat-turned-intel chief, told lawmakers back in March, “The IC [Intelligence Community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”
She said the intelligence community was still monitoring if “Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program” and warned that “Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons.”
But earlier this week, when asked about Gabbard’s take, Trump shut it down quickly and said he doesn't "care what she said," before adding, “I think they were very close to having one.”
The apparent tension grabbed headlines. Still, Gabbard played it cool. After briefing senators behind closed doors on June 16, she told reporters that they were "on the same page."
Was Tulsi Gabbard present in the Situation Room?
Despite her mysterious absence from the photos, Tulso Gabbard was actually in the Situation Room, according to the New York Post. She was just out of frame.
A Trump administration spokesperson later confirmed the full Situation Room roll call.
The main photo showed Trump surrounded by VP JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State and acting national security adviser Marco Rubio, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
But that wasn’t the full cast.
Also present behind the scenes were Gabbard herself, along with White House deputy chiefs Dan Scavino and James Blair, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, NSC member Andy Baker, White House counsel David Warrington, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Israel responds, JD Vance has Tulsi Gabbard’s back
Meanwhile, outside the West Wing, Gabbard’s earlier assessment received a side-eye from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking to Fox News’ Bret Baier, Netanyahu insisted, “The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear — was absolutely clear — that they were working in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium. They were marching very quickly.”
Just last week, before Israel launched its own strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency threw up red flags about Iran’s enrichment levels. They didn’t outright say Iran was building a bomb, but the signs were enough to set off alarms.
Having said that, Vance still came to Gabbard’s defense. The VP praised her loyalty and service in a statement to Fox News.
“DNI Gabbard is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump, and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024," Vance said, adding, “She is an essential member of our team, and we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats.”
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