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Donald Trump was ready to fire Tulsi Gabbard as his top spy chief until his longest political adviser, Roger Stone, gave him a call.
The President had grown frustrated with his top intelligence chief over her lack of enthusiasm for his Iran war during Congressional testimony, according to Axios.
Trump 'scolded' Gabbard in a closed-door meeting and questioned her loyalty, officials said. Others claimed he was sarcastically chiding rather than aggressively criticizing Gabbard.
The President went as far as polling his Cabinet on whether he should fire Gabbard after her lackluster performance on Capitol Hill.
Trump sounded last week as though he was ready to dismiss the director of national intelligence until Stone got involved.
'Roger sealed the deal. He saved Tulsi,' said a source close to Trump.
Stone, 73, declined to comment when reached by the Daily Mail. He has been a friend and close political adviser to Trump since 1979.
He laid out four reasons Trump should not dismiss Gabbard, arguing she had remained loyal, handled congressional testimony with discipline, and never publicly contradicted the President.
Following her testimony, Donald Trump began polling his cabinet members about whether he should fire Tulsi Gabbard
Officials say Trump 'scolded' Gabbard in a closed-door meeting and questioned her loyalty to him
Trump is said to have become angry at Gabbard for not fully endorsing his war with Iran
Stone warned that firing her would trigger an unnecessary and damaging media frenzy. He argued that she would be elevated as a martyr among segments of Trump’s base already uneasy about the war.
He cautioned that such a move could also boost her credibility with MAGA dissenters, potentially positioning her as a serious GOP presidential contender within a year.
Stone told Trump it would complicate JD Vance’s path in early 2028 primary states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Trump has also grown increasingly frustrated with Gabbard in recent weeks regarding the resignation of her deputy, Joe Kent.
Kent stepped down last month after accusing Israel of misleading the President about the need to invade Iran.
Gabbard further angered Trump by refusing to condemn Kent during her Congressional testimony.
Stone addressed these concerns during his phone call with Trump by stressing that, unlike Kent, Gabbard had no intention of resigning and did not merit a preemptive dismissal.
Although Stone did not comment on the Axios report, he confirmed Thursday on X that he stepped in on Gabbard's behalf: 'Fortunately, I acted in time.'
Roger Stone, Trump's longest political adviser, saved Tulsi Gabbard from being fired
Gabbard further angered Trump by refusing to condemn former counter-terror chief Joe Kent, who sensationally resigned last month, during her Congressional testimony
The White House declined to address Stone's last-minute campaign to save Gabbard.
'President Trump believes Tulsi Gabbard is doing an excellent job on behalf of the administration. She is a key member of his national security team,' Leavitt said.
Gabbard's spokesperson said she 'remains committed to fulfilling the responsibilities the President placed in her to protect the safety, security and freedom of the American people. She will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of President Trump's agenda.'
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