[Text/Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] Due to the continuous escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, US President Donald Trump, who was attending the G7 Summit in Canada, left the venue ahead of schedule on the evening of June 16 local time.

According to comprehensive reports by American Axios News Network and the Associated Press, Trump told the media on Air Force One while returning to Washington that he didn't care what his appointed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had said, and he insisted that Iran was very close to having nuclear weapons.

On the plane, a journalist asked, "Do you think Iran should not have nuclear weapons? Personally speaking, how close do you think they are to having nuclear weapons?"

"Very close," Trump replied.

The journalist then mentioned that Gabbard had stated in March this year that U.S. intelligence agencies believed that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons.

Trump responded, "I don't care what she said. I believe they are already very close to having nuclear weapons."

President Trump being interviewed by the media on Air Force One. Video screenshot.

Gabbard stated at the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in late March that after evaluation, U.S. intelligence agencies continue to believe that Iran is currently not making nuclear weapons, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has not changed his decision to suspend the nuclear weapons program made in 2003.

This report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), consolidates the opinions of all U.S. intelligence agencies. The report mentions that within Iran, there is an increasing call to lift bans on nuclear weapons research and production, mainly as a response to Israel's military actions in the region.

She added, "In the past year, we have seen the taboo on discussing nuclear weapons in public gradually broken in Iran over decades, which may embolden nuclear weapon supporters within Iran's decision-making bodies. Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium has reached its highest level, which is unprecedented for a non-nuclear-armed country."

Gabbard said that the United States will continue to closely monitor whether Iran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program.

Local time on March 25, 2025, Gabbard attends the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. U.S. media.

It was reported that critics believe that Trump's remarks ignored the assessment of the National Intelligence Director. MSNBC pointed out that when a president publicly claims that he doesn't care about the opinion of his own National Intelligence Director, it usually means that the director should write a resignation letter.

A senior intelligence official told Axios News Network that Trump's statement does not contradict Gabbard's statement because Trump said Iran is "very close" to having nuclear weapons, while Gabbard said Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons.

The official said there is a difference. "Just because they don't have nuclear weapons now doesn't mean they don't want to make them."

It was reported that Gabbard herself brushed off the contradiction in stance, dismissing media distortion and insisted that "President Trump's statement is completely consistent with mine."

She told CNN, "We agree."

It was reported that Trump also told the media on the plane that day that he had no mood to negotiate with Iran and that he hoped the conflict could "end, really end, not just a ceasefire." He emphasized that if Iran attacks U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East, the U.S. will "take action without mercy."

That day, he also posted several times on social media, saying, "Our patience has run out," and demanded that Iran "surrender unconditionally."

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7517119614137844260/

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