Fact Check: Gabbard testified Iran isn't building a nuclear weapon, Trump says she's 'wrong.'

Fact Check: "Gabbard testified Iran isn't building a nuclear weapon, Trump says she's 'wrong.'"

What We Know

In March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, testified before Congress that the U.S. intelligence community assessed that Iran was not actively pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon. Gabbard stated, “the Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003” (AP News). This assertion aligns with previous intelligence reports indicating that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, although it had increased its stockpile of enriched uranium (Axios).

In contrast, President Donald Trump publicly dismissed Gabbard's assessment during a flight back to Washington, asserting that Iran was “very close” to having a nuclear bomb (AP News). Trump’s comments were made in the context of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, and he expressed a desire for a more definitive resolution than a ceasefire (AP News).

Analysis

The claim that Gabbard testified Iran was not building a nuclear weapon is supported by her official statements and the consensus of the U.S. intelligence community at that time. Multiple sources, including a report from the New York Times, confirm that Gabbard reiterated the intelligence community's position during her testimony (New York Times).

Trump's dismissal of Gabbard's testimony reflects a broader pattern of his skepticism towards intelligence assessments that do not align with his views. His assertion that Iran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon contradicts the intelligence community's findings and has been criticized as an oversimplification of a complex issue (Axios, CBS News).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is generally high, as they include established news organizations like the Associated Press and the New York Times, which are known for their journalistic standards. However, Trump's statements often reflect his political agenda, which may introduce bias in interpreting the intelligence assessments.

Conclusion

The claim that "Gabbard testified Iran isn't building a nuclear weapon" is True. Gabbard's testimony accurately represented the consensus of U.S. intelligence at the time, which stated that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. Trump's public disagreement with Gabbard highlights a significant divergence between his views and those of his intelligence director, but does not alter the factual basis of Gabbard's statements.

Fact Check: Gabbard testified Iran isn't building a nuclear weapon, Trump says she's 'wrong.'