Gabbard, who has been a supporter of Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, was confirmed as a key figure in US intelligence shortly after his return to the White House in 2025. However, this year, she has been mostly absent from public engagements, even as the US engaged in military actions against Iran, increased pressure on Cuba, and notably ousted Venezuela’s president. Gabbard is the fourth member of the Cabinet to leave the Trump administration, following Lori Chavez-DeRemer's resignation as labor secretary in April. Earlier this year, both Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi also exited the administration. In her letter, Gabbard mentioned that her husband, Abraham, “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months.” Trump noted on social media that Gabbard “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.” Throughout her political career, Gabbard has positioned herself as an opponent of foreign military interventions, which created tension following Trump’s decision to strike Iran. After US-Israel airstrikes, she avoided endorsing the action and sidestepped questions during a congressional hearing in March about whether the administration was aware of the potential consequences of the conflict. She also faced scrutiny regarding what Democrats saw as differences between the White House and intelligence community's statements about Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities. Last year, Trump appeared to disregard Gabbard’s assertion before Congress that Iran was not attempting to develop a nuclear weapon. “I don’t care what she said,” Trump told reporters at the time. “I think they were very close to having a weapon.” He has often cited Iran’s nuclear potential as justification for the US military campaign against the country. Gabbard’s resignation follows two months after her top aide, Joe Kent, who formerly led the National Counterterrorism Center, left the administration, calling on the president to “reverse course” regarding the conflict in Iran. After Kent’s departure, Gabbard publicly supported Trump’s stance on Iran, asserting that as commander-in-chief, the president is responsible for identifying imminent threats. A military veteran who served in a medical unit in Iraq, Gabbard has achieved several political milestones throughout her career.
