OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:02 AM – Friday, May 22, 2026
Following the shock announcement on Friday that Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard will be stepping down from her position at the end of next month, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Aaron Lukas, the current Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, will step in to lead the agency.
Described by President Trump as highly respected, Lukas will take over as Acting DNI in order to manage the intelligence community during a presumed critical period of national security challenges.
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According to the president, Gabbard’s departure is effective June 30th and comes as she steps away from public service to support her family, and specifically her husband, Abraham Williams, as he battles a “rare form of bone cancer,” according to her resignation letter.
The president expressed his full support for Gabbard’s choice to prioritize her family, noting that she rightfully wants to be by her husband’s side to help bring him back to good health as they fight this tough battle together.
Praising her leadership over the past year and a half, Trump also emphasized that Gabbard has done an incredible job during her tenure heading the nation’s intelligence agencies. He emphasized that she will be greatly missed within the administration.
“Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence,” Trump stated on Truth Social on Friday.
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