Details emerged in March 2026 about a classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard involving an NSA intercept of two foreign nationals discussing Jared Kushner's influence on Trump regarding Iran.
Gabbard allegedly bypassed normal NSA distribution channels, personally delivering a paper copy of the intercept to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and directing the agency to route classified details only to herself. The complaint was filed in May 2025 but was not delivered to Congress for approximately eight months — a potential violation of the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act.
The intercept involves foreign nationals discussing Kushner's influence over Trump's Iran policy. Given that the US went to war with Iran in February 2026, any intelligence about foreign influence on Trump's Iran decision-making is critically relevant to national security and Congressional oversight.
Gabbard denied wrongdoing and called the complaint “politically motivated.” However, the pattern — intercepting intelligence about a Trump family member's foreign influence, bypassing normal channels, restricting access to herself, and withholding from Congress — raises serious questions about whether the DNI is protecting the country or protecting the president's family.