President Donald Trump came dangerously close to firing his top intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, after growing furious over her stance on the Iran war.
The internal conflict shows just how deep tensions are getting inside the administration as divisions over foreign policy continue to spill into public view.
An X post from longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone added fuel to the story, with Stone declaring, “Fortunately, I acted in time,” signaling his direct involvement in stopping the move.
According to reports, Trump was deeply frustrated with Gabbard following her congressional testimony, where she failed to fully back his push on Iran.
Behind closed doors, Trump reportedly “scolded” Gabbard and questioned her loyalty to his agenda.
Some officials claimed the exchange was harsh, while others suggested the president’s tone may have been more sarcastic than outright aggressive.
Still, the situation escalated quickly.
Trump went as far as polling members of his cabinet on whether he should remove Gabbard from her position as Director of National Intelligence.
At one point, it appeared the decision was all but made.
That’s when Roger Stone stepped in.
“Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi,” a source close to Trump said, describing the last-minute intervention that changed everything.
Stone, who has advised Trump since 1979, reportedly laid out a clear case for keeping Gabbard in place.
He argued she had remained loyal, handled her testimony with discipline, and never publicly broke with the president.
More importantly, Stone warned of the political consequences.
He told Trump that firing Gabbard could spark a major media frenzy and elevate her into a martyr among parts of the MAGA base already uneasy about the Iran conflict, per the Daily Mail.
Stone also cautioned that such a move could boost Gabbard’s credibility and even position her as a future presidential contender.
The warning appeared to land.
Trump ultimately backed off, despite lingering frustration.
The tensions didn’t stop with Iran.
Trump had also been angered by Gabbard’s handling of her deputy Joe Kent, who resigned after accusing Israel of misleading the administration about the need for war.
Gabbard further irritated Trump by refusing to condemn Kent during her testimony.
Even so, Stone reportedly reassured Trump that Gabbard had no plans to resign and did not deserve to be pushed out.
The White House has since downplayed the situation.
Officials said Trump believes Gabbard is doing an “excellent job” and remains a key part of his national security team.
Gabbard’s office echoed that message, saying she remains committed to carrying out the president’s agenda.
But behind the scenes, the near-dismissal reveals a much bigger issue.
As the Iran conflict continues to divide even Trump’s closest allies, the pressure inside his administration is clearly starting to boil over.
