Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is calling out The Washington Post, accusing one of its national security reporters of using deceptive and unethical tactics to target her and her office.
In a public statement posted to X, Gabbard named longtime Post journalist Ellen Nakashima and accused her of “actively harassing ODNI staff,” including making anonymous calls from burner phones and lying about her identity to pressure officials into leaking sensitive intelligence.
“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 said.
Gabbard, a former Democrat Congresswoman from Hawaii who joined the Trump administration earlier this year, said Nakashima had previously used similar tactics to stalk her family back in Hawaii.
“This is a clear political op by the same outlet and the same reporter who harassed and stalked my family in Hawaii,” Gabbard said. “This kind of deranged behavior reflects a media establishment so desperate to sabotage @POTUS’s successful agenda that they’ve abandoned even a facade of journalistic integrity and ethics.”
She added, “Apparently, 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.”
It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing ODNI staff. 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…
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 3, 2025
The Washington Post responded with a defensive statement from Executive Editor Matt Murray, who stood by Nakashima, calling her “careful” and “fair-minded” while claiming her behavior was standard journalism.
“Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment,” Murray said. He accused Gabbard of misunderstanding the media’s role in holding officials accountable.
The clash underscores the growing tension between Trump administration officials and establishment media outlets like the Washington Post, which has faced mounting criticism for what conservatives call politically motivated smear campaigns. Gabbard’s decision to confront the Post head-on reflects a broader strategy within the administration to aggressively counter hostile media narratives.
The post Tulsi Gabbard Unloads On Washington Post, Says Reporter Is ‘Actively Harassing’ Staffers appeared first on Real News Now.
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