Tulsi Gabbard, currently serving as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, has made pointed accusations against a Washington Post journalist. The director has alleged that the journalist used deceptive tactics to obtain sensitive information from intelligence officials. This controversial statement was made public through a sharply worded social media post, according to reports from The Hill.
Gabbard’s criticism was specifically directed at Ellen Nakashima, a veteran national security correspondent for the Washington Post. Nakashima is a known figure in the field, being part of three Pulitzer Prize-winning teams. It appears that Gabbard’s concerns stem from Nakashima allegedly circumventing the press office of the Director of National Intelligence and directly contacting high-ranking officials.
“Instead of reaching out to my press office, she is calling high level Intelligence Officers from a burner phone, refusing to identify herself, lying about the fact that she works for the Washington Post, and then demanding they share sensitive information,” Gabbard posted.
Gabbard suggests that Nakashima’s actions are not just a breach of traditional journalism ethics but a venture into misconduct. “Publishing leaked classified material wasn’t enough for the Washington Post, so now they’ve decided to go after the Intelligence professionals charged to protect it,” Gabbard is quoted as saying.
However, the Washington Post has defended Nakashima’s actions and her journalistic integrity. Executive Editor Matt Murray stated that Nakashima’s reporting methods were in line with professional standards and did not cross ethical boundaries. He further denounced Gabbard’s accusations as “unfounded” and “personal.”
This development follows earlier reports that tensions are increasing between the intelligence community and the press, particularly concerning access, transparency, and the protection of classified material. Gabbard, who was a congresswoman before assuming her current role, has taken a hard-line stance on internal security and press conduct since taking office in February.
