Trump Names Gabbard’s Replacement After She Resigns As DNI
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down from the Trump administration at the end of June, with President Donald Trump announcing Friday that her replacement will be named shortly afterward.
Trump said Gabbard is leaving to focus on her family after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
“Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
The president announced that Aaron Lukas, the principal deputy director of national intelligence, will serve as acting director once Gabbard officially departs.
Gabbard confirmed her resignation in a letter posted to X, saying her final day will be June 30.
In the letter, she thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve in his administration and said her decision was driven by her husband’s medical battle.
“Dear Mr. President, I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half,” she said in her post.
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” Gabbard said.
After speaking glowingly about her husband, she signed off with thanks to President Trump.
“Thank you for your understanding during this deeply personal and difficult time for our family. I will remain forever grateful to you and to the American people for the profound honor of serving our nation as DNI,” she said.
The departure marks a major change inside the administration’s intelligence leadership.
According to Fox News Digital, Gabbard informed Trump of her decision during a Friday Oval Office meeting.
However, the circumstances surrounding her exit appear to be more complicated.
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that Gabbard was forced out by the White House, though Trump’s public comments framed the departure as entirely family-related.
Trump publicly praised Gabbard again Friday while emphasizing the seriousness of her husband’s condition.
The president’s announcement comes after occasional signs of tension between the two over foreign policy.
Earlier this year, Trump publicly suggested Gabbard was less aggressive than he was when it came to confronting Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
In March, Trump said Gabbard was “softer” than him on stopping Tehran’s nuclear program.
Despite those differences, Trump’s public messaging Friday was warm and supportive.
Aaron Lukas now steps into one of the most sensitive national security roles in Washington, at least on an interim basis.
As principal deputy director, Lukas has already been working inside the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, making him a natural temporary successor while the administration determines its long-term plans.
Gabbard’s exit removes one of the administration’s most high-profile and unconventional national security figures.
A former Democratic congresswoman turned Trump administration intelligence chief, Gabbard’s appointment drew intense scrutiny from critics but strong support from many Trump allies.
Her tenure included oversight of intelligence coordination during a period of escalating international tensions involving Iran, China, Russia, and the Middle East, The New York Times reported.
Now, her focus shifts entirely to family.
No additional details about her husband’s diagnosis or treatment were immediately released.
The White House has not indicated whether Trump intends to nominate a permanent replacement quickly or allow Lukas to serve in the acting role for an extended period.
For now, the administration is presenting the move as a deeply personal decision driven by a family medical emergency, even as outside reporting raises questions about whether internal dynamics also played a role.
Reagan-Appointed Judge Resigns So He Can Attack Trump - the phdailynews.org
In a significant shift within the American legal landscape, Senior U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf has announced his resignation from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. A veteran jurist originally appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, Wolf’s departure is specifically intended to liberate him from the ethical constraints of the bench. By stepping down, he seeks to speak candidly about what he characterizes as an unprecedented ‘assault on the rule of law’ and persistent threats to judicial independence under the current administration.
Having entered the Department of Justice in 1974 during the shadow of the Watergate scandal, he cited former Attorney General Edward Levi as a primary influence on his view of nonpartisan justice. Wolf accused the current administration of weaponizing the legal system to pursue political enemies while shielding allies, stating that continued silence on these matters had become ‘intolerable’ after four decades of service.
The White House responded to the resignation with sharp criticism. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson dismissed Wolf’s concerns, labeling him and other like-minded jurists as ‘radical judges’ who prioritize personal political agendas over impartial legal application.
Jackson argued that the administration’s track record, including over 20 victories in the Supreme Court, validates its legal strategies. She further suggested that any judge wishing to engage in political discourse should follow Wolf’s lead and vacate their seat.
This judicial friction occurs against a backdrop of intense political maneuvering as the Republican National Committee (RNC) prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. Under the leadership of Joe Gruters, the RNC has secured a massive fundraising advantage, potentially entering the election cycle with hundreds of millions of dollars in resources. As tensions mount between the executive branch and members of the judiciary, the move by Wolf highlights a deepening divide over the boundaries of judicial conduct and institutional integrity in an increasingly polarized era.
Owner Of California ‘Trump House’ Fighting For Life After Brutal Attack - the phdailynews.org
Escondido police responded around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday to reports of an assault in progress near the intersection of East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street, directly adjacent to Sheron’s heavily decorated home.
When officers arrived, they found the 69-year-old suffering from catastrophic injuries.
Authorities said a utility worker who witnessed the attack stepped in and helped restrain the suspect until police arrived.
Sheron was rushed to a trauma center, where he remained in critical condition in the ICU.
His wife, Maria Garcia, gave a devastating update as the family waits for what appears to be the worst.
She told reporters she does not expect her husband to survive.
Garcia also believes the attack may have been politically motivated, given the history surrounding the home.
“He tried to kill my husband, you know,” Garcia told CBS 8. “It’s terrible. I don’t know what kind of hate… what heart, the black heart.”
The home, known throughout the San Diego area as the “Trump House,” has long been covered in American flags, patriotic decorations and pro-Trump displays.
For years, the property has attracted both supporters and critics.
Garcia suggested the visible patriotic displays may have fueled hostility.
“They don’t like the flags. I don’t know why. I support America. My husband is [a] veteran,” she said.
Police arrested 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler, who has now been charged with attempted murder.
He is being held without bail at the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County.
Authorities say Butler fled the scene after the attack but was quickly tracked down and arrested.
Police also said a bystander who intervened during the violence suffered injuries.
A friend of Butler told the California Post that the suspect is a Navy veteran with serious mental health struggles.
“This is the guy that plays with Legos and Star Wars stuff,” the friend reportedly said.
According to the friend, Butler had been taking medication for mental illness, but his condition had worsened significantly.
The friend described Butler as increasingly paranoid and unstable.
“He sits in his room and thinks everyone is coming to get him,” the friend reportedly said.
The same source said Butler had been unemployed after his time in the Navy.
While police have not publicly declared a motive, Sheron’s home has previously been the target of vandalism and complaints.
Its highly visible political messaging made it one of the most recognizable private homes in the area.
That history has fueled immediate speculation that politics may have played a role.
California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa called for swift action.
“Full and immediate investigation,” Issa wrote on X.
He also claimed Trump supporters are increasingly being targeted.
President Trump’s supporters are “routinely the victims of leftist violence all across the country,” Issa said.
At this stage, investigators have not publicly confirmed whether politics played any role in the alleged attempted killing.
Mental illness may also be a major factor, based on accounts from those who knew the suspect.
Still, for Sheron’s family, those questions are secondary to the immediate tragedy unfolding.
Sheron’s patriotic home became a symbol for supporters in the area who saw it as an unapologetic display of American pride.
Now it has become the backdrop for a horrifying act of violence.
The utility worker who intervened may have prevented an even worse outcome, though Sheron’s condition remains dire, Fox News reported.
As of the latest reports, Butler remains behind bars awaiting further court proceedings.
Police have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.
For now, a veteran known for proudly displaying his support for America and President Trump is fighting for his life, while his family braces for what may come next.
