A Wall Street Journal report published on Tuesday, August 26th, 2026, reveals that President Donald Trump allegedly ignored warnings from the intelligence community, military leaders, and then-Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard about the potential downsides of war with Iran.

According to the report, Trump consulted Gabbard just days before launching Operation Epic Fury in February, asking whether the U.S. should go to war with Iran. Gabbard, who resigned in May 2026, reportedly advised against military action, citing intelligence assessments.

The WSJ states that Gabbard warned Trump that assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, could harden the regime ideologically and increase its willingness to pursue nuclear weapons. She also cautioned that Tehran might immediately close the Strait of Hormuz and intensify attacks on U.S. forces, bases, and allied partners in the Middle East.

Supporting this view, a July report by The Washington Post cited U.S. officials and experts who described Iran’s regime as more "entrenched and hard-line," led by a new generation of non-civilian leaders. Raz Zimmt of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies told the outlet that despite economic weakening from sanctions and strikes, Iran had become "a new, bolder, self-confident" actor.

Gabbard’s tenure and warnings were controversial. Before her 2025 confirmation, National Review’s editorial board labeled her an "atrocious nominee" with a record of poor judgment. In late 2024, The Guardian reported that the D.C. foreign policy establishment and intelligence community viewed her as "dangerous" and prone to conspiracy theories. She also faced criticism from hawkish Republicans, including Mark Levin, and the Trump administration after posting a video warning of nuclear war while Trump considered joining Israel’s strikes on Iran.

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