Tulsi Gabbard booted from Venezuela plans with aides joking DNI stands for 'do not invite' -- but Vance denies report
Source: The Independent
Thursday 08 January 2026 18:03 EST
Donald Trumps administration reportedly excluded intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard from months of planning to capture ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro because of her previous opposition to U.S. military involvement in the country.
White House aides even joked that her Director of National Intelligence title, or DNI, stood for do not invite, according to Bloomberg.
Vice President JD Vance said reports that Gabbard was kept out of the administrations plans are completely false. Were all part of the same team, he told reporters at the White House Thursday. We kept it very tight to the senior cabinet officials and related officials in our government, and we kept this operation secret for a very long time.
Vance, who also denied reports that he was similarly blocked from discussions, said his role in the administration is going to be whatever the president asks me to do.
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/tulsi-gabbard-venezuela-dni-jd-vance-b2897184.html
Meanwhile, his "whereabouts" were suddenly explained away by his staff - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143592528
Yet when the Bin Laden operation was underway, then-VP Biden was right there with Obama in the Situation Room -

Hugin
(37,444 posts)They cant abide a female having any power whatsoever.
mwmisses4289
(3,243 posts)Tulsi is really only a figurehead at the DNI and Vance is too open in his desire for the presidency.
Javaman
(65,120 posts)lonely bird
(2,776 posts)That is all.
marble falls
(71,104 posts)..."This week on "Where Are They Now" - Tulsi ... who?"