(SeaPRwire) –   President Donald Trump noted that he and intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard have “some differences” in their approaches to addressing Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

When reporters on Air Force One asked if he still had confidence in Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Trump affirmed he did, then went on to detail their disagreements regarding Iran.

“Her thought process differs a bit from mine, but that doesn’t disqualify someone from service,” he said late Sunday. “I’m very firm in my stance that Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear weapon—if they did, they’d use it right away. I think she’s a bit more lenient on that point, and that’s fine.”

When contacted for comment, the Office of the DNI provided TIME with a statement from White House communications director Steven Cheung, which read: “As President Trump stated, he has confidence in Director Gabbard and the dedicated work she is carrying out.”

Gabbard faced questioning over claims related to Iran’s nuclear intelligence during a contentious Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 18.

The intelligence chief, a former Democratic Congresswoman who left the party, stated that Iran had not reconstructed its uranium enrichment program after joint U.S.-Israel strikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities in June of last year.

“Due to Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was destroyed,” Gabbard wrote in her pre-hearing opening statement. “There have been no attempts since to rebuild their enrichment capacity. The entrances to the bombed underground facilities have been buried and sealed with cement.”

Gabbard omitted the portion of her statement regarding Iran’s failure to rebuild its enrichment capacity when delivering her opening remarks at the hearing.

Her evaluation seemed to conflict with one of Trump’s key rationales for launching strikes against Iran on February 28.

“If we hadn’t struck within two weeks, they would’ve had a nuclear weapon,” Trump emphasized during a March 4 meeting with congressional leaders.

Trump reiterated this view during a March 27 speech in Florida. 

“Recall, they were two weeks away,” he said. “Two weeks away (…) If we hadn’t dealt them a heavy blow, they’d have a nuclear weapon within two to four weeks.”

The Trump Administration’s varying justifications for the Iran war, coupled with the rising costs of the conflict, have sparked criticism and concern across party lines.

Trump recognized the differing approaches but suggested that overall support for the war remains robust.

When speaking about Gabbard, Trump told reporters that “most people” support the Iran war. “Most people are expressing gratitude for what we’ve done,” he stated.

Disapproval of U.S. military action against Iran

Despite Trump’s assertions, multiple polls indicate that most Americans oppose the war.

A March 25 Pew Research poll found that approximately 61% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s management of the conflict, with 37% approving.

A Quinnipiac University poll, also released March 25, revealed that 42% of registered U.S. voters think the war has made the world less secure. 

The war has also laid bare divisions among U.S. officials.

Top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned on March 17 in protest of the decision to wage war on Iran, writing in a resignation letter to Trump that Iran presented “no imminent threat.”

“I cannot, in good conscience, support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no immediate threat to our country, and it is evident we initiated this war under pressure from Israel and its influential American lobby,” Kent wrote.

During a March 19 House Intelligence Committee hearing, Gabbard answered “yes” when asked if Kent’s remarks about Israel were a concern. 

Trump, however, downplayed Kent’s resignation, calling him a “nice guy” but “very weak on security.”

Vice President J.D. Vance, who has previously expressed anti-interventionist views, criticized Kent’s stance, contending that the Administration’s duty is to back the President by making his decisions “as effective and successful as possible,” regardless of personal agreement.

Trump scrutinized for swaying from campaign promise to avoid foreign wars

Signs of tension are increasing within segments of the MAGA base, with some allies claiming Trump has deviated from his campaign pledges.

Trump campaigned in 2024 on a platform vowing to keep the U.S. out of foreign wars, prioritizing domestic prosperity instead. 

In February, days before the first strikes on Iran, the White House labeled him the “President of Peace.” 

But that title has since been challenged.

From Iran to Venezuela, Trump has authorized strikes on multiple countries and regions during his second term, and on Monday, he threatened additional military action if a U.S.-Iran agreement isn’t reached soon.