Vice President JD Vance praised departing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard after she announced plans to step down from the Trump administration because of her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Vice President JD Vance publicly commended Tulsi Gabbard on Friday after she announced she would resign as director of national intelligence at the end of June to focus on her husband’s medical treatment.
In a statement posted on X, Vance described Gabbard as “a patriot” and thanked her for her service in the Trump administration.
“Tulsi is a patriot, a great asset to the administration, and a dear friend,” Vance wrote. “I’m sorry to see her go but certainly understand that family comes first. She and her husband Abraham will be in my prayers as they face this next challenge together, and she has my gratitude for being a great addition to the administration and a loyal confidante.”
Gabbard announced her resignation earlier Friday in a statement shared on X, explaining that her husband, Abraham Williams, had recently been diagnosed with what she described as “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”
In her resignation letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Gabbard characterized the decision as personal rather than political and said her husband’s condition required her full attention.
She referred to Williams as “my rock throughout our 11 years of marriage” and reflected on the support he provided during her military deployments, political campaigns, and leadership role overseeing the U.S. intelligence community.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and Army veteran, became director of national intelligence in February 2025 after joining Trump’s administration.
In the letter, she thanked Trump “for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.”
She also referenced prior assignments and experiences, including a Joint Special Operations deployment to East Africa and multiple national political campaigns, while expressing gratitude for her time serving in the administration.
President Trump responded publicly on Truth Social after news of the resignation became public.
“Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th,” Trump wrote. “Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together.”
“I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever,” Trump continued. “Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her.”
Trump also announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would assume the role of acting director following Gabbard’s departure.
Gabbard’s resignation marks one of the most significant leadership changes within Trump’s national security team during his second term.
Original article
Comments