Gossip about Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard being sidelined on Venezuela policy is spreading like wildfire in D.C. In essence, both Vance and Gabbard are pushing back hard against media claims that they were left out of key discussions on U.S. strategy toward Venezuela.
Just The News reported that on Thursday, outlets like Bloomberg dropped reports alleging Gabbard was intentionally excluded from Venezuela planning, with some insiders snarking that DNI means "do not invite."
At a White House press briefing, Vice President Vance tackled these rumors head-on with no hesitation. He labeled the stories about both his and Gabbard’s exclusion as flat-out untrue. Clearly, the press underestimated his willingness to call out fiction when he sees it.
Bloomberg suggested Gabbard’s known doubts about U.S. foreign interventions might explain her supposed omission. But isn’t it refreshing to have someone in the room who questions endless overseas commitments? That’s not a flaw; it’s a strength for sound policy.
The Wall Street Journal piled on, hinting at a distant relationship between Gabbard and President Trump. Yet, administration sources quickly noted she’s often in the Oval Office, leading intelligence briefings several times a week. That hardly sounds like someone on the outs.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung didn’t hold back, stating, "President Trump has full confidence in [Gabbard] and she’s doing a fantastic job." That’s a ringing endorsement if there ever was one. The narrative of her being sidelined seems more like media wishful thinking than fact.
Cheung also accused the press of trying to "sow division" with these reports. It’s almost as if crafting drama is their default setting, rather than sticking to what’s verifiable. Shocking, right?
An administration official told Just the News that Gabbard’s office provided vital intelligence analysis for the Venezuela mission. That’s not the mark of someone sitting on the bench. It’s exactly the contribution expected from a top intelligence advisor.
The same official emphasized that Gabbard frequents the White House, delivering routine briefings to the president. If that’s not being in the loop, then what qualifies?
Vance himself reinforced this at the briefing, saying, "I've heard a couple of things. One that I was kept out of the planning for the Venezuela operation. That's false."
He added, "And another, that [Gabbard] was kept out of the planning for Venezuela operations. That's completely false." There’s no room for misinterpretation here—just a direct debunking of a shaky storyline.
Let’s be honest: the media’s eagerness to depict this administration as divided over Venezuela smells like narrative-pushing, not truth-seeking. If they channeled half that effort into digging for facts, we might avoid these baseless tales altogether.
Ultimately, the White House remains firm in rejecting claims of exclusion as pure fabrication. Gabbard’s history of scrutinizing reckless foreign policy only bolsters her importance in ensuring America’s actions are deliberate and thoughtful.
Isn’t that the kind of leadership we need—focused on strategy over posturing? The press might thrive on discord, but this administration seems more interested in results than rumors.
