Tulsi Gabbard Appoints Trump Ally Nicholas Kass to Lead National Intelligence Council
In a striking move amid mounting accusations of political bias within the US intelligence community, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has named Nicholas Kass, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, as the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
Rising Concerns Over Partisanship in Intelligence Assessments
Over recent months, both Republicans and Democrats have raised alarms about political influence distorting intelligence evaluations. By installing Kass, Gabbard appears to be asserting greater oversight over the NIC, aiming to realign its analytic direction.
Clashes With Trump Over Iran Nuclear Threat
Tulsi Gabbard faced sharp criticism from Trump earlier this month following her congressional testimony stating the intelligence community assessed that Iran was not actively developing nuclear weapons and that its Supreme Leader had not authorized such a program since 2003.
Conversely, during his presidency, Trump endorsed Israel’s aggressive actions against Iran, including airstrikes targeting nuclear facilities, citing intelligence that Iran was nearing bomb capability. Trump dismissed Gabbard’s current assessment as incorrect, insisting Iran was "very close" to developing nuclear weapons.
This debate intensified when a May 31 report from the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed Iran had amassed approximately 120 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%—a level dangerously close to weapons-grade uranium at 90%. These findings compounded doubts about the intelligence community’s position.
Allegations of Left-Wing Bias in the Intelligence Community
Prominent officials from the Trump era and several Republicans contend that the intelligence apparatus harbors a strong left-wing bias. Last month, Gabbard dismissed two senior NIC officials shortly after a classified report appeared to undermine a central element of Trump’s stringent immigration policies, triggering backlash from Democrats.
Nicholas Kass: A Provocative Trump Ally
By bringing Kass on board, Gabbard may be seeking a shift toward a more conservative leadership within the NIC. Kass’s record includes numerous opinion pieces and social media posts vehemently criticizing Democratic leadership while celebrating Trump’s political victories.
In a prominent 2024 social media post, Kass lauded Trump’s election success as an "epic" repudiation of the "Deep State" and its alleged authoritarian machinations, signaling his commitment to challenging the prevailing intelligence narrative.
What This Means Moving Forward
- Potential recalibration of intelligence assessment priorities under Kass’s leadership.
- Heightened scrutiny of alleged political bias within intelligence operations.
- Increased tension between intelligence community factions aligned with differing political ideologies.
As Gabbard tightens her grip on intelligence leadership, the dynamics of US intelligence oversight look poised for significant change, with implications for policy and national security debates.
