Trending Now - US Intelligence Officials to Discuss Iran Risks Amid Controversy
WHO:
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, is the first person in U.S. history to serve as DNI while in military uniform.
James Walkinshaw, U.S. Representative from Virginia, serves on the Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
James Walkinshaw, U.S. Representative from Virginia, criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's performance in classified briefings.
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Joe Kent, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
President Trump
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Lt. Gen. James H. Adams, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Kash Patel, FBI Director
WHAT:
Gabbard stated on X, "The president is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat."
Gabbard's office oversaw Joe Kent’s work as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
The Pentagon confirmed that six American soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait during the opening hours of the war with Iran.
The Defense Intelligence Agency provided outdated intelligence that led to a missile strike on an elementary school in Iran, resulting in over 165 deaths.
Joe Kent's resignation letter stated, "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
Kent accused high-ranking Israeli officials and some media of waging a "misinformation campaign" to deceive Trump regarding Iran's threat level.
Gabbard stated, "After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion."
The Pentagon confirmed that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 crash in western Iraq have been confirmed dead.
Joe Kent resigned on March 17, 2026, stating he could not "in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran."
Kent's resignation letter claimed Iran posed "no imminent threat" to the U.S. and accused officials of a "misinformation campaign."
Gabbard stated on X that President Trump concluded Iran posed an imminent threat after reviewing intelligence.
The U.S. military campaign in Iran has included a strike that killed over 165 people at an elementary school.
The Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled to hear from Gabbard on March 18, 2026, and the House hearing is set for March 19, 2026.
The hearings will address the war in Iran and the FBI's ability to prevent domestic terror attacks.
WHERE:
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Iran
Texas (location of a recent shooting)
Virginia (location of a recent shooting)
New York City (location of a protest)
WHEN:
Gabbard appeared in uniform at Dover Air Force Base earlier in March 2026 during the dignified transfer of the six American soldiers killed in Kuwait.
Joe Kent resigned on March 17, 2026.
The Senate hearing is on March 18, 2026, and the House hearing is on March 19, 2026.
The U.S. military campaign against Iran began on February 28, 2026.
WHY:
Gabbard faced scrutiny for her role in the administration’s election integrity push, including arranging a call between Trump and FBI agents involved in the seizure of election materials in Fulton County, Georgia.
Walkinshaw expressed embarrassment over Hegseth's inability to answer detailed questions and his lack of understanding of strategy, stating, "He is in way the hell over his head."
Kent's resignation was due to his belief that Iran posed no imminent threat and concerns over the motivations behind the war.
Gabbard's support for Trump’s authority to determine threats is in response to Kent's resignation and the ongoing conflict.
HOW:
The hearings are expected to delve into internal administration debate over the war, particularly following Kent's resignation and the outdated intelligence that led to the missile strike.
The U.S. military campaign against Iran has included airstrikes that have resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of over 165 people in a strike on an elementary school.
The U.S. military conducted airstrikes in Iran, including targeting three Iranian nuclear sites.
The Defense Intelligence Agency provided outdated intelligence that led to a missile strike on an elementary school in Iran.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 17:20 UTC)
In a historic moment for the U.S. military, Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as Director of National Intelligence, became the first person to hold this position while in military uniform. Gabbard recently stated that the president is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat, as the Pentagon confirmed the tragic deaths of six American soldiers in a drone strike in Kuwait during the early hours of the war with Iran. The upcoming hearings are set to explore the internal debates within the administration regarding the war, especially in light of the outdated intelligence that resulted in a devastating missile strike on an elementary school in Iran, leading to over 165 fatalities.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 13:26 UTC)
In a significant development, the Pentagon has confirmed that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 crash in western Iraq have died. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his performance in classified briefings, expressing embarrassment over Hegseth's inability to answer detailed questions. In related news, Joe Kent's resignation letter claimed that Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S. and accused high-ranking Israeli officials of misleading Trump about the situation, while Tulsi Gabbard defended the President's actions, stating he believed Iran was indeed a threat.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 11:16 UTC)
In a significant development, Joe Kent resigned as the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center on March 17, stating he could not support the ongoing war in Iran, which he believes poses no imminent threat to the U.S. His resignation comes as President Trump and Tulsi Gabbard assert that intelligence indicates an imminent threat from Iran, while the U.S. military campaign continues to escalate, including a recent strike that tragically killed over 165 people at an elementary school. The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to hear from Gabbard today, with a House hearing scheduled for tomorrow, both focusing on the war in Iran and the FBI's role in preventing domestic terror attacks.