Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard publicly backed President Donald Trump’s authority to determine national security threats after the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent.

In a post on X, Gabbard said the president, “overwhelmingly elected by the American people,” serves as commander in chief and holds responsibility for deciding “what is and is not an imminent threat” to the United States and its military personnel.

She said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence exists to support that role by coordinating intelligence and providing the president with “the best information available” so he can make informed national security decisions.

According to Gabbard, Trump reviewed the intelligence and concluded that “the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat,” prompting the administration to act based on that determination.

Her remarks followed Kent’s resignation from the National Counterterrorism Center. Trump addressed the development Tuesday, telling reporters the departure was “a good thing” and describing the former counterterrorism chief as “very weak on security.”

Trump also emphasized that Iran posed a clear danger, arguing that while countries may disagree on how to respond, there was broad recognition internationally of the threat posed by Tehran