Archive · 10 Jan 2026
White House Excludes Gabbard from Maduro Ouster Planning
The White House excluded Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, from planning to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro because she had previously spoken against military action in Venezuela.
Some White House aides joked about not inviting her, but a White House official denied this.
Vice President JD Vance said everyone was part of the team and the operation was kept secret.
Gabbard provided intelligence for the mission but was not involved in the operational planning.
She praised the servicemembers involved in the operation.
The exclusion is unusual for the DNI role, which typically oversees intelligence agencies.
Gabbard has been a vocal opponent of regime-change wars and has focused on declassifying documents important to Trump's base.
Tulsi Gabbard was excluded from planning to oust Nicolas Maduro due to her past opposition to military action in Venezuela.
White House aides joked about not inviting Gabbard, but a White House official denied this.
Vice President JD Vance denied the exclusion, emphasizing team unity and the secrecy of the operation.
Gabbard provided intelligence for the mission but was not involved in the operational planning.
Gabbard praised the servicemembers involved in the operation's execution.
- Who
- Tulsi Gabbard, JD Vance, Donald Trump, Nicolas Maduro
- What
- Exclusion of Gabbard from planning to oust Maduro
- When
- Planning picked up in late summer, operation executed recently
- Where
- United States, Venezuela
- Why
- Gabbard's past opposition to military action in Venezuela
- Person Excluded
- Tulsi Gabbard
- Reason for Exclusion
- Past opposition to military action in Venezuela
- Operation Target
- Nicolas Maduro
- Vice President's Response
- Denied exclusion, emphasized team unity
- Gabbard's Role
- Provided intelligence, more analytical than operational
- White House Official's Denial
- No joke about excluding Gabbard
- Gabbard's Public Statement
- Praised servicemembers for operation's execution