President Trump has demanded that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resign before the 2026 midterm elections, marking the latest casualty in a sweeping cabinet purge that has already removed multiple high-profile officials from his administration.

Cabinet Shakeup Accelerates

The White House has made clear to Gabbard that they want her departure finalized before voters head to the polls later this year, according to two sources who spoke with Sherwood News. While the timing remains uncertain and no official resignation has been confirmed, the pressure campaign signals Trump’s dissatisfaction with his intelligence chief. The purge has already claimed Attorney General Pam Bondi, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in rapid succession.

Iran Testimony Triggers Loyalty Questions

Gabbard’s position deteriorated after she testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee following U.S. strikes on Iran this spring. She emphasized she was presenting intelligence community assessments rather than personal opinions, maintaining her long-held opposition to foreign interventions. The situation worsened when her deputy, Joe Kent, resigned in March over disagreements about the Iran conflict and Israeli influence in domestic politics. Sources indicate Trump grew angry when Gabbard refused to condemn Kent’s departure, leading him to question her loyalty to his agenda.

Patel Faces Similar Pressure

FBI Director Kash Patel has also emerged as a potential target in the administration purge. The Atlantic published claims this week suggesting Patel suffers from alcohol problems causing unexplained absences from duty. Patel responded by filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the magazine, calling the allegations false and fabricated attempts to destroy his reputation and force him from office. When asked about Gabbard’s future, Trump told reporters she was available to serve but added that her thought process differed from his own.

What Comes Next

The timing of Gabbard’s expected departure remains vague, but White House insiders suggest the administration wants the transition completed before the midterm campaign enters its final stretch. Gabbard built her 2020 presidential campaign around ending regime change wars and criticized U.S. interventions in Iraq, Libya, and Syria as wasteful and counterproductive. Her antiwar stance now appears at odds with Trump’s approach to Iran, creating the friction that may end her tenure as the nation’s top intelligence official.