US President Donald Trump on Friday rejected an intelligence assessment on Iran’s nuclear program, saying his own director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard , was "wrong."
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump said, "Then my intelligence community was wrong." When informed it was Gabbard who made that statement, he added: "She's wrong."
The remarks came as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, with Iran under pressure from the US and its allies over its expanding nuclear activities.
Earlier in March, Gabbard told lawmakers that US intelligence agencies believed Iran had "not made a decision to build a nuclear weapon."
Trump also weighed in on Iran’s nuclear energy claims, saying it was “hard to see” why Iran would need civilian-use nuclear power when it has “one of the largest oil reserves in the world.”
Trump said the US should not be required to meet NATO’s proposed defense spending target, ahead of an upcoming alliance meeting.
NATO members are expected to discuss a pledge for each country to spend 5% of its GDP on defense, but Trump told reporters, “I don’t think we should, but I think they should,” referring to other member nations.
“We’ve been supporting NATO so long,” he said, criticizing Spain for rejecting the pledge and calling it a “very low payer.”
“They were either good negotiators, or they weren’t doing the right thing,” Trump said in northern New Jersey, where he is spending part of the weekend. “I think Spain has to pay what everybody else has to pay.” he added.
Trump also questioned Iran’s need for a civilian nuclear energy program, saying, "They’re sitting on top of one of the largest piles of oil in the world. I just don’t know why they’d need that for civilian purposes."
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump said, "Then my intelligence community was wrong." When informed it was Gabbard who made that statement, he added: "She's wrong."
The remarks came as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, with Iran under pressure from the US and its allies over its expanding nuclear activities.
Earlier in March, Gabbard told lawmakers that US intelligence agencies believed Iran had "not made a decision to build a nuclear weapon."
JUST IN: President Trump says Iran is weeks or months away from having a nuclear weapon, says Tulsi Gabbard is “wrong.”
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 20, 2025
Reporter: What intelligence do you have that Iran is building a weapon? Your intel community said they have no evidence.
Trump: My intelligence community is… pic.twitter.com/eyuZIen51x
Trump also weighed in on Iran’s nuclear energy claims, saying it was “hard to see” why Iran would need civilian-use nuclear power when it has “one of the largest oil reserves in the world.”
Trump said the US should not be required to meet NATO’s proposed defense spending target, ahead of an upcoming alliance meeting.
NATO members are expected to discuss a pledge for each country to spend 5% of its GDP on defense, but Trump told reporters, “I don’t think we should, but I think they should,” referring to other member nations.
“We’ve been supporting NATO so long,” he said, criticizing Spain for rejecting the pledge and calling it a “very low payer.”
“They were either good negotiators, or they weren’t doing the right thing,” Trump said in northern New Jersey, where he is spending part of the weekend. “I think Spain has to pay what everybody else has to pay.” he added.
Trump also questioned Iran’s need for a civilian nuclear energy program, saying, "They’re sitting on top of one of the largest piles of oil in the world. I just don’t know why they’d need that for civilian purposes."
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