DNI Gabbard Tells Senate Iran Terror Threat Now Driven More by Individual Radicalization as She Says Only President Decides What Is 'Imminent'
At the Senate Intelligence Committee's worldwide‑threats hearing, DNI Tulsi Gabbard said the U.S. is seeing fewer large, complex Islamist plots and more individuals radicalized online, and she repeatedly deferred the determination of what counts as an “imminent” threat to President Trump — a stance voiced amid the resignation of NCTC director Joe Kent, who argued Iran posed “no imminent threat.” The session, which included CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other top intelligence chiefs, highlighted sharp internal divisions over Iran (Ratcliffe called it an immediate threat), probed contested intelligence after U.S. strikes that the administration says degraded Iran’s capabilities and raised questions about civilian casualties and targeting, and featured warnings that the Iran war and reduced content moderation may be accelerating domestic radicalization.
📌 Key Facts
- The annual Senate Intelligence Committee "worldwide threats" hearing was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday with DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams testifying; a follow‑on House Intelligence hearing was scheduled for Thursday.
- National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned, saying Iran posed "no imminent threat," accusing U.S. policy-makers of starting the war "due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," and alleging a misinformation campaign by some Israeli officials and media deceived President Trump.
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly declined to say in public whether the intelligence community had warned the administration of specific Iranian retaliatory moves, and told senators that determining what is "imminent" is the president's responsibility — framing the intelligence community as providing inputs while leaving the final imminence judgment to President Trump (a position she also defended publicly).
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe directly rejected Kent's assessment, calling Iran a "constant" and an "immediate" threat, reflecting a sharp internal and partisan split on threat judgments highlighted at the hearing (Sen. Tom Cotton projected the war could last "weeks, not days" with heavy strike rates, while Sen. Mark Warner said Iran posed no imminent threat).
- Gabbard said U.S. airstrikes under Operation Epic Fury had "vastly degraded" Iran's military capabilities and that prior U.S. strikes had "obliterated" Iran's enrichment program, but she and other reporting noted the Iranian regime remains intact though largely degraded; a March 2025 U.S. intelligence assessment similarly found Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei had not reauthorized a program, even as Iran retained substantial missile, drone and regional strike capabilities.
- Officials and reporting say outdated targeting data — attributed to the Defense Intelligence Agency — likely led to a U.S. missile striking an elementary school in Iran and killing more than 165 people; the White House says the strike remains under investigation.
- Gabbard and security experts warned the terrorism threat picture in the U.S. is shifting from large, complex foreign plots to more attacks by individuals radicalized online; NPR linked the Iran war to several incidents under terrorism review (an attempted bombing outside the New York mayor's residence, a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University, and an attack on a Detroit‑area synagogue), and experts cautioned that the U.S.–Israeli offensive combined with reduced content moderation and increased use of AI is accelerating online radicalization.
- Questions were raised about FBI leadership as Director Kash Patel, in his first Hill appearance, has fired dozens of FBI agents in his first year and faced scrutiny after video surfaced of him partying with U.S. Olympic athletes, prompting concern about loss of national‑security experience amid rising terrorism threats.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Black service members made up 21.4% of active-duty Army soldiers, compared to approximately 13.6% of the U.S. population, indicating overrepresentation; Hispanics comprised 18.5% of active-duty military, close to their 18.9% population share, while Whites were 53.3% in the Army, underrepresenting their 59.3% population share.
How many people are in the US military? A demographic overview — USA Facts
Black and Latino households in the US pay 13-18% more on average for energy per square foot of housing compared to White households, with Black households spending an average of 5.1% of their income on energy costs.
Race, rates, and energy insecurity: exploring racial disparities in electricity pricing and household energy burden in the United States — Nature Scientific Reports
In the 118th Congress (2023-2025), 6% of members identified as Jewish, compared to 2% of the U.S. population, representing a threefold overrepresentation.
Christians, Jews punching above demographic weight in US Congress, Pew finds — The Times of Israel
Pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, contributed over $4 million to U.S. Senators from 1990-2024, with significant spending influencing policies on Israel and Iran.
Pro-Israel Recipients — OpenSecrets
📰 Source Timeline (9)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 19, 2026
9:00 AM
As overseas terrorists regroup, is the Iran war increasing danger in the U.S.?
New information:
- Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the U.S. now sees fewer signs of large, complex foreign Islamist plots and more efforts focused on individuals radicalized by propaganda, sometimes without direct ISIS or al‑Qaida contact.
- The article links the Iran war to recent U.S. incidents being probed as terrorism: an ISIS‑inspired attempted bombing at a protest outside the New York City mayor’s residence and a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia, plus a Detroit‑area synagogue attack labeled targeted violence.
- Security experts Michael Masters (Secure Community Network) and William Braniff (PERIL) say the U.S.–Israeli offensive in Iran has given foreign terrorist entities a 'narrative opening' they are exploiting, and warn that tech companies’ retreat from content moderation and growing use of AI are making online radicalization faster and more dangerous.
8:32 AM
War escalates, energy prices spike after Israeli strike on Iran gas field
New information:
- In addition to her earlier comments about who defines an 'imminent threat,' Tulsi Gabbard is now quoted in this CBS reporting as telling senators the Iranian regime 'appears to be intact' though 'largely degraded,' despite 'relentless' U.S.–Israeli attacks.
- This characterization, delivered at a Senate hearing, emphasizes that Washington’s stated aim of breaking the regime’s grip on power has not been achieved, even as military operations and regional escalation intensify.
March 18, 2026
10:59 PM
What’s a Threat? Gabbard Says It’s Up to Trump, on Iran and Elsewhere.
New information:
- New York Times piece more sharply characterizes Gabbard’s testimony as effectively handing the core 'imminent threat' judgment from the intelligence community to President Trump.
- It highlights that Joe Kent is described as a 'trusted aide' and close adviser to Gabbard, underscoring the political and personal stakes of her response.
- It frames the hearing as a 'communications crisis' for the administration after Kent’s letter saying 'Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation', and stresses Gabbard’s balancing act of not directly attacking Kent while aligning with Trump.
7:18 PM
Gabbard defers to Trump when asked if Iran posed "imminent threat"
New information:
- Axios details an exchange in which Sen. Jon Ossoff asks whether the intelligence community assessed Iran as an 'imminent nuclear threat,' and Gabbard responds that the IC assessed Iran intended to rebuild enrichment but that 'the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president.'
- Gabbard explicitly states, 'It is not the intelligence community's responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,' framing the IC as providing inputs while leaving 'imminent threat' judgments solely to the president.
- Axios contrasts this oral testimony with Gabbard’s prepared written statement, which said Iran’s enrichment program was 'obliterated' in prior strikes and that there had 'been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,' highlighting a tension with her spoken reference to Iran’s intention to rebuild.
- The piece notes the White House has asserted Iran posed an 'imminent nuclear threat' but has offered no public proof of what spurred the strikes, and frames Gabbard’s answers against that backdrop and Joe Kent’s resignation letter claiming Iran posed 'no imminent threat.'
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe is quoted as saying he disagreed with Kent and viewed Iran as both a 'constant threat' and an 'immediate threat at this time,' adding another layer to the internal narrative.
- Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt tells Fox News that Trump still has 'full confidence' in Gabbard despite the controversy and her past opposition to war with Iran.
5:36 PM
Tulsi Gabbard offers threat assessment – and walks a careful line on Iran
New information:
- Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that U.S. airstrikes under Operation Epic Fury have “vastly degraded” Iran’s military capabilities while acknowledging the regime remains intact.
- Gabbard declined in open session to answer whether the intelligence community had warned the administration in advance that Iran was likely to close the Strait of Hormuz or launch retaliatory strikes against neighboring oil‑producing Gulf states.
- She reaffirmed prior intelligence assessments that U.S. June airstrikes had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, but said it is the president’s responsibility to decide what constitutes an “imminent” threat, effectively sidestepping the core dispute raised by Joe Kent’s resignation.
- Gabbard refused to answer in public whether Russia is providing Iran with intelligence support, saying that topic belonged in the classified portion of the hearing.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe directly rejected former NCTC Director Joe Kent’s claim that Iran posed “no imminent threat,” asserting Iran had been a constant threat and “posed an immediate threat at this time.”
1:05 PM
WATCH LIVE: Gabbard, Ratcliffe and Patel testify on worldwide threats in Senate Intelligence hearing
New information:
- Confirms the Wednesday Senate session is the annual worldwide‑threats hearing, with a follow‑on House Intelligence hearing Thursday.
- Reports that outdated targeting data, said to have come from the Defense Intelligence Agency, likely led to a U.S. missile hitting an elementary school in Iran and killing over 165 people.
- Notes the White House says the school strike remains under investigation.
- Adds that Gabbard publicly stated in a social media post that it is up to President Trump to decide whether Iran posed a threat, without stating her own view.
- Highlights that Kash Patel has fired dozens of FBI agents in his first year as director, sparking concern about loss of national‑security experience as terrorism threats rise.
- Mentions Patel’s first Hill appearance comes after video surfaced of him partying with members of the U.S. men’s hockey team following their Olympic gold medal, a clip that has fueled questions about his leadership style.
1:01 PM
Senate to question Trump intel leaders on Iran war after top official quits in protest
New information:
- Confirms the full roster of officials scheduled to testify: DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman, and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams.
- Provides Joe Kent’s resignation quote in fuller form, including his explicit claim that the U.S. started the Iran war 'due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'
- Includes Tulsi Gabbard’s public defense of Trump’s decision, emphasizing that after reviewing all intelligence he concluded Iran posed an 'imminent threat' and that she frames her role as coordinating information to support that decision.
- Details the leadership and partisan split on the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, naming Chair Sen. Tom Cotton and ranking member Sen. Mark Warner and quoting Warner’s view that Iran posed no imminent threat to America.
- Quotes Cotton saying he expects the war to last 'weeks, not days' and referencing 'hundreds, if not thousands, of strikes into Iran' every day, sharpening the picture of the war’s projected duration and intensity.
10:00 AM
Top intelligence officials to testify to Senate panel as Iran war escalates
New information:
- Confirms line-up and timing for the Senate Intelligence Committee 'worldwide threats' hearing: 10 a.m. Wednesday, with DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams testifying.
- Publishes detailed excerpts from National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent’s resignation letter, in which he says Iran posed 'no imminent threat' and claims the war was started due to 'pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'
- Reports Kent’s allegation that a 'misinformation campaign' by high-ranking Israeli officials and some media outlets 'deceived' Trump into believing an imminent Iranian threat existed and that a swift victory was possible.
- Adds Tulsi Gabbard’s public response on X asserting that the president is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat and that Trump concluded the 'terrorist Islamist regime in Iran' posed such a threat after reviewing the intelligence.
- Recaps the March 2025 U.S. intelligence community assessment stating it continued to assess that Iran was 'not building a nuclear weapon' and that Ali Khamenei had not reauthorized the program, though Iran had substantial missile, drone and regional strike capabilities.