US President Donald Trump was ready to fire Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard after her testimony on the Iran war, but Republican strategist and Trump's old friend Roger Stone stepped in to stop him, according to reports.
As per the Axios report, Trump was upset that Gabbard did not strongly back the Iran war during her appearance before Congress.
The report said Trump also scolded Gabbard in a private meeting and questioned her loyalty. It added that the president had discussed with cabinet members whether she should be replaced.
The Guardian had also reported earlier that Trump privately asked advisers about replacing Gabbard, with tensions growing over her stance on Iran and her defence of a former deputy who resigned from the administration.
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“Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi,” a source quoted by Axios said. Stone confirmed on X that he had intervened on Gabbard's behalf.
Stone's advocacy for Gabbard has led to a bitter feud with another Trump adviser — Laura Loomer, a frequent critic of Gabbard, whom she accuses of disloyalty.
"Last Monday Loomer tried to convince the President that Tulsi Gabbard was about to resign- in an effort to get Trump to move preemptively to fire her. The whole thing was a hoax," he said on X.
"Fortunately, I acted in time. When I called Loomer out on her lie is when she became unhinged." he added.
Last Monday Loomer tried to convince the President that Tulsi Gabbard was about to resign- in an effort to get Trump to move preemptively to fire her. The whole thing was a hoax. Fortunately, I acted in time. When I called Loomer out on her lie is when she became unhinged pic.twitter.com/Qbg2GpI6C2
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) April 9, 2026
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Gabbard later defended Trump, saying he was responsible for deciding whether there was an imminent threat and what action was needed to protect US troops and the country.
The report comes after Joe Kent, Trump's top counterterrorism official, resigned in mid-March over the Iran war, saying he could not support the conflict as Tehran posed no imminent threat to the US. His exit exposed rare dissent inside the administration on the war.
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