Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has canceled a scheduled meeting with the Senate, according to multiple Axios sources.
The cancellation comes as Democrats believe they are not “being given enough information,” and are pressuring the Trump administration for more information about the Israel-Iran conflict, according to the report.
"Cost, duration, risk to our troops, strategy — the basics before we make a decision of this consequence," Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Axios.
One source told the outlet the Senate meeting was nixed because “Gabbard had a principal-level White House commitment.”
The meeting cancellation comes amid reported tension between Gabbard and Trump. On Tuesday, Politico reported Trump was “frustrated” with a June 10 video Gabbard released warning of “political elites and warmongers” pushing the world to “the brink of nuclear annihilation.”
"Tulsi could do herself a favor by focusing on her job. Right now, she gets a C in the president's eyes," a senior administration official told Axios.
The source went on to say, "There's been a little bit of self-aggrandizement that never goes over well anywhere, but certainly not in Trumpworld," but "Everybody likes her personally. The president does. Nobody wants her to go away. She's part of the team."
Gabbard's spokespeople did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
Trump has called for Iran to issue an “unconditional surrender” to Israel.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump did not deny or confirm any plans to strike Iran.
“Will you strike the Iranian nuclear component?” a reporter asked.
"You don't seriously think I'm going to answer that question," Trump said.
The United States has ordered all American citizens to leave Israel and will close the US embassy, as it continues to exchange bombs with Iran.
