DNI Gabbard Excluded From Senate Iran Strike Briefing Amid Leak Controversy

President Donald Trump's administration held a Senate briefing on U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, with key national security officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan Caine present. However, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was notably absent from the briefing amid tensions following her March testimony that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon, a position President Trump publicly disputed. Her exclusion came shortly after leaks suggested the strikes may not have destroyed the core components of Iran's nuclear program, leading to public disputes between the White House and media outlets such as CNN. Administration officials downplayed the significance of Gabbard's absence, stating that Ratcliffe would represent the intelligence community, while some senators expressed skepticism given Gabbard's differing views. The situation highlights friction within the administration and ongoing congressional concerns about the legality and effectiveness of the strikes without prior congressional approval. The Senate is expected to vote on a resolution requiring presidential approval for future military actions against Iran.