President Trump announces via Truth Social, “Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence” following the departure of DNI Tulsi Gabbard on June 30, 2026.
Aaron Lukas will do a solid job as ‘acting’ or as fully nominated and confirmed DNI.
There will likely be a great deal of rumor and speculation about a different permanent replacement. One name sure to surface within the discussion is Devin Nunes, but I strongly doubt the former Chairman of the HPSCI would desire or accept the position.
If, and that is a very big ‘if’, Devin Nunes was to accept the role, that would indicate a remarkable change in his opinion about the overall intelligence apparatus. Therefore, I doubt this is an option. Devin Nunes believes in the historic fidelity of the intelligence institutions. As a result, the DNI position has seemed smaller and less significant.
The only way Nunes would take the job is if two things changed. First, he now believed the construct of the United States intelligence apparatus is teetering on the edge of irreversible corruption (he did not previously hold this position); and second, if he sees that Tulsi has now proven the power of the DNI in the intelligence apparatus. As readers here will fully understand, until DNI Gabbard that power was never fully extended.
Former House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) member Elise Stefanik will likely be another name. She would have the full support of the Susie Wiles grouping. The same network who advocated for Mike Waltz to be National Security Advisor. However, Stefanik would greatly please Laura Loomer, Mark Levin and Ben Shapiro; while conversely providing fuel for Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly antagonisms.
Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn would likely be another name. This one strongly promoted by Q-adherents as evidence toward their Horoscope predictions and Q-anon ‘drops’ about Nunes stepping down from CEO of Truth Social as a 3-D chess maneuver, proactively planned to replace Gabbard [he did not].
Unfortunately, Flynn’s judgement is not stellar, and while he has been supportive of Mrs. Gabbard it’s not likely President Trump wants that kind of Flynn drama or the issues he brings with him for a nomination. That said, if the political calculation is to fuel the core base, Flynn might stand a chance at nomination. But don’t overthink it, Flynn would be of no value in the DNI position for anything of substance. Again, weak judgement (led to his former demise) and grifting tendencies.
Two other names of note: Scott Perry from Pennsylvania who was a target of the FBI/IC for his support of President Trump, and Rick Crawford the current Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a gang of eight member. The IC has nothing to fear from either of these names. They are essentially Mike Waltz clones, though to be fair I might be a little harsh on Perry.
Rick Crawford, as HPSCI Chairman, allowed Tulsi Gabbard to review the Atkinson transcript. Still, he didn’t act until Gabbard asked to see it and later pushed to declassify it. While he had the authority to handle it himself, like many congressional IC members in both the House and Senate, he seemed wary of challenging the very system they’re tasked with overseeing. [TIP: If whoever’s name it is currently falls under the IC oversight mechanism, they probably fear the “seven ways from Sunday” group, unlike Tulsi Gabbard. Accept this reality and adjust your perspective accordingly.]
GOPe types and “CONservative” influencers might also bring up Trey Gowdy or former HPSCI Chairman Mike Rogers. If either of these names show up, there’s a problem. And anyone advancing these names…. well, they’re the problem.
There’s no immediate need for any speculative guesswork. ADNI Aaron Lukas will do a solid job.
In the interim, we should expect DNI Gabbard to wrap up several aspects surrounding ongoing investigations and will likely make them all public prior to her departure, post haste.
Pray for Tulsi Gabbard and Abraham Williams!
I will again suggest that Mr. Sundance should enter his name and credentials for the position!
Failing that….keep Aaron Lukas, if he will indeed do “a solid job.”
How about a pardon for Edward Snowden and give it a shot?? I know he’d never be confirmed, but it sure would be telling (and fun) to watch the meltdowns.
Yeah, that will for sure make the Russia collusion accusations go away!
Israel is the new Russia
😆 🤣 😂…
Iseeyou..
There’s no way in Hades that Sundance could be confirmed ! I do hope Sundance can continue as a consultant. Best would be a special prosecutor for the coup named and Sundance having a special consultant role to help understand and navigate the silos.
Bootlicking again, huh?
Oh my, somebody just drank his first beer!
These fools have been flooding the zone, trying damage our spirit. They haven’t figure it out yet. Their energy is wasted.
LOL!
Really?? That was uncalled for…
Where do you people come from?
Have you nothing better to do than come on here and make an arse of yourself?
Hi Bob. Good to see you on here.
It appears Mrs. Arse has weighed in two comments down.
Thank you!
Eat shite a-hole.
No, Sundance is the ODNI “whisperer”.
Whaaat? A grocery store clerk?
You come here with this clown up above?
What have you ever done in your life to compare to our host?
Ill wait….20 bucks says you are just 2 trolls, trolling…..
Trolls used to always have a wing man. When you see them in pairs again you have to figure their billionaire betters are getting nervous and spending double the nickels on them now.
As a bag girl, you would know!
Hahahaha! Nice!
Nice retort.
That was a low., slow ball over the middle of the plate! 😉
Is that you, Old Yeller (ML)?
Thank you Sundance!
Trey Gowdy?
God forbid.
A hearty “cock-a-doodle-doo!” to you, sir.
That’d be McConnell’s pick
Ric Grenell
Just think of all the nasty letters he could write!
Thank you Sundance.
Prayers up from this day on for everything God wills for Tulsi Gabbard and her husband Abraham. Amen!
She has been a shining gift, and I can only pray that God will bless her and her husband and then make it possible to continue the fight she has been fighting. Through her, or through her temporary replacement. 🙏
AMEN!
Lukas being career CIA makes me very leery. I doubt that any replacement will equal Tulsi, but I am willing to give him a chance.
“………..being career CIA makes me very leery.”
Noted. However, sometimes the best fire prevention tool you can get is to hire a reformed arsonist.
I don’t know anything about Aaron Lukas, but I trust Sundance’s opinion on him.
As to ALL of the other names mentioned-I don’t trust any of them. They are all compromised.
I suspect that Tulsi has communicated to President Trump names of people she trusts. I pray that Wiley Wiles does not get to pick the replacement.
I’d prefer anyone but the usual suspects. Preferably someone with an axe to grind that has the stones to stand and deliver for POTUS.
Preferably someone with an axe to grind………..
THIS!
ADNI Aaron Lukas will do a solid job — unless Susie Wiles succeeds in pushing someone else for the position in response to pressure from GOPe senators to return to the pre-Trump status quo. Let’s hope that Lukas becomes DNI maintains the same philosophy and approach Tulsi Gabbard was using.
If Trump refuses her input, let her quit. That’s a win.
Well I for one am absolutely devastated, but I completely understand & support her decision. She was my last hope on turning the ship around. Ugh.
Payers up!
Oh & F cancer!
*Prayers up 🤦🏻♀️
My first thought was Oh NO! She’s been doing such an outstanding job! and then, Crud! C@n ser… wonder if that’s Covi-related?
God is our last hope—or should be.
First and Last🙏🏻🥰🕊️
Pray for Abraham and Tulsi.
Off topic but President Trump has canceled his plans and is headed back to DC. This was a sudden change.
Yes and my first thought was an attack on Iran.
Rubio is supposed to fly to India tomorrow. Something else to watch.
On Friday, May 22, 2026, President Donald Trump abruptly canceled his plans to travel to Bedminster, New Jersey, for a golf weekend and instead returned to Washington, D.C., following a campaign event in upstate New York.
This sudden change came just hours after he announced he would not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and Bettina Anderson, which is taking place in the Bahamas.
Trump cited “circumstances relating to government” and emphasized that his “love for the United States of America” required him to remain at the White House during this “important period of time.” The decision was made public via a post on Truth Social, where he expressed regret but underscored national security priorities.
Some folks in Iran better take notice.
Sounding like something turned on the fan, and something else is gonna hit it.
Praying for tulsi her husband and perp walks
I have been thinking about this a bit, and Admiral Mike Rogers (non-politician!!!) would be on my short list.
If anyone showed courage and fidelity to the Constitution in the face of adversity, Adm Rogers showed and flew his colors.
Interesting
Sundance laid out how Rogers was not the hero we all believed in a detailed article.
I missed that one. Thank you!!! That’s what short lists are for! 🙂
Just read Sundance’s post on Rogers… my what a tangled web. It appears Adm Rogers did a service suggesting use of a different facility without exposing himself unduly. He did some good in the face of a lot of evil.
That’s a name I thought of also. Your short answer of fidelity is spot on.
Uhhh… No. Yes, he did PDJT a solid but it was pure CYA.
Who chose Aaron Lukas for the Deputy Director spot?
My concern would be if he had been placed there to keep an eye on Gabbard the same way Pence was installed to be a safety switch during Trumps first tour.
Sundance’s confidence in him may have some experience to base it on.
I believe Tulsi picked him
Rick Crawford was my Rep when I lived in AR. He never once responded to any of my written questions with anything other than a prewritten form letter. He’s in a solid red state in a solid red district and could upset the apple cart & not have to worry about getting reelected. That’s not his style, he’s a go along guy. Blah.
Losing Tulsi is a bitch. Maybe Clay Higgins, that man is a solid.
Agree on Rep Higgins. He was my persoal pick for fblie director.
I thought about Clay Higgins as well. He’s fearless and has that military, law enforcement background.
Sundance as DNI. Please call President Trump.
We would certainly benefit from that; however, let us keep Sundance private.
Harriet Hagemann?
Rick Grenell?
You mean the Harriet Hagemann who was praising Chip Soy and pushing him for TX AG?
And President Trump praised and supported Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham for their re-elections.
I still think she’d do well in the job.
Chip Soy tool in a bottle.
https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/2057824817324151080/video/1
Grenell was one of the first names that came to my mind as well…
Same here — I believe he was acting DNI in Trump’s first term, and did a great job. Grenell would be great as permanent DNI, and because he’s been vetted already by the Senate, he could bypass that and be appointed directly. I read that Lukas was Grenell’s chief of staff at that time. If true, that puts Lukas up a lot in my estimation — hopefully he is a branch of the same tree.
I like the way you think. I suggested Harriet Hageman, but I’ll admit I don’t have a deep background on her.
I would give Admiral (Retired) Michael Rodgers strong consideration
But now we have butt hurt Thune to get the nominee voted on.
The turds in the punchbowl have grown from Lisa, Susan, and Thomas adding dipstick from LA and soon to be Cornyn (fingers crossed).
7 months of hurt feelings and retribution.
President Trump has yet again exposed the rot.
We have proof positive that the America First/MAGA senators could be counted on one hand.
Thune “can’t get the votes” for legislation that has north of 80% support with the entirety of the American populace, The Save America Act. Of course, the longer he delays, the softer the support for it gets. By design.
He can’t get the votes and he was Mitch McConnell’s whip to GET THE VOTES.
It wasn’t’ lost on “some “ of us that Tulsi personally thanked you for that beautiful prayer on X. “Some” of us just might be jealous😎
Reports say Tulsi was forced out by the White House. I don’t doubt it. Sadly President Trump gets his ears filled with crap from people within and outside his administration. Sadly the high ground is being taken back.
Gobbledygook
Only by Reuters and it was immediately refuted by DNI COS.
Mediate.
I doubt that. The Left has been predicting she would be fired for months. They’re just using this opportunity to try to prove they had some inside knowledge.
Not a chance…..
Why? The more I am reading comments here the more I find many people refusing to believe anything that might be counter to perfection within this administration. Has everyone forgotten the numerous legions of Trump haters that infiltrate all agencies of the government, plus the many members of CONgress within the R’s who’d gladly see him falter?
It has nothing to do with perfection. It has to do with serious health problems of Tulsi’s husband. You keep falling for every leftist media narrative. You are not even close to being a MAGA supporter.
Do you know or understand the phrase “self – fulfilling prophesy”, Neo?
This is BS, you should know better.
Jibber-jabber
Perhaps Ed. Martin?
Yes!
Sundance for DNI!!!
Also a vote for Sundance. Or someone from private sector.
Zero confidence in anyone else currently in politics.
Actually, I would choose Rubio.
It would be his most important job yet.
I think he has his hands full. DNI is a 24hpd cauldron.
Anyone have any ideas why President Trump cancelled plans to attend Don Jr’s wedding to remain in DC this weekend? Interesting.
Wedding in Bahamas and very small — 50 — guest list. The huge security footprint to have him attend would totally change what Don Jr. wanted.
These are very big shoes to fill. Director Gabbard served in Iraq and personally experienced the downstream impacts of deception, flawed analysis, and corrupt national policy. She built her political career the traditional way through hard work in the Hawaii state assembly (did not rely upon a famous family dynasty name, payoffs, or fake ballot stuffing). She ran for president and took on the wrath of both Google (was deplatformed) and HRC. If you listen to her interviews, you will learn that as a member of congress, she asked the correct questions regarding involvement in Syria and other places. This earned her additional retribution. Her fearlessness to continue pushing and fighting for us is a blessing. All of these experiences influenced and focused her resolve as Director. In hindsight, it seems natural that she would join President Trump’s team. Though I will admit, I did not have that on my bingo card in 2015. God bless Tulsi and Abraham.
I read this twice, did a few research queries on some of the names mention, and find myself in 100% agreement with our host.
The liberal clowns at Mediaite are reporting that she was forced out by the White House. These people have are truly sick and can’t be helped.
I kinda wonder the timeline of events. I wonder (though, not my business or anyone else’s), whether the rumors of her being “fired” circulating after Bondi was let go actually stemmed from someone leaking her husband’s diagnosis.
So of course, they are going to spin this tragic situation into their narrative. These people are demons.
👉That’s a very likely scenario. Taking advantage of serious and personal health condition. Bad guys feast on these circumstances to promote chaos or infighting. 👈
When they claim, “sources familiar with the matter…” it means they are making this up. Full of schiff.
Mediate and Reuters.
This feeds the TDS crowd the think that they got another head.
As that story goes… Tulsi supposedly hates PDJT, and will run for President as DEM in 2028.
Sound like TDS moonbat delusions to me.
Still in disbelief. So sad to see that Tulsi will be going, she was doing a great job. All her time in office, she proven to be so effective.
I don’t know whoever replaces her if he/she will be tough like her and take a stance against those evil people, or whether he/she will be subdued by the same system. Remains to see.
Anyhow, i wish Tulsi well, she is a vey courageous woman, and prayers up to her husband.
I am thinking of Tulsi and Abraham first, but I do worry somewhat about the demoralizating aspect to Tulsi’s departure. She is a super star, a shining light, and was doing amazing work in her role. There are few as intelligent and articulate currently in this administration. She is by far one of 47s best picks. She will be sorely missed, and hard to replace.
ABSOLUTELY NO TO PRO SODOMITE MARRIAGE STEFANIK
Ric Grenell? I think he might be motivated to continue to clean the Augean Stables….
Wiles hates him.
Why, because she can’t CONTROL him or because he has President Trump’s ear & full confidence (or both)???
🎯🎯🎯🎯
There are do-ers and there are schemers. Rick is a do-er.
Well, that’s a point in his favor. I think he’d be good. Harriet Hageman might be good as well.
Rick Grenell.
Flynn , although he got hosed, did not impress me before they slimed him. I had doubts early.
Could he move John Radcliff over since he was in that position in his first term then get new
head for CIA??
We will miss Miss Tulsi. She had more BALLS than 30 Men twice her size.
Tulsi is the female reincarnation of Testiclese! 🙂
Interesting. Doesn’t Wiles have cancer?
But she is so power-crazed she kept her job. ’nuff said.
The other candidates are all cut from the same cloth, a dirty rag salvaged from the city garbage dump.
If the position goes to Lukas for now my question is “How much of Tulsi’s knowledge is he privy to?”.
I don’t think that Tulsi could tip her hand to many people on what she knows because she’s in a trust no one situation in D(emon) C(enter).
Tulsi has more integrity than the whole bunch of our “representatives”.
This is a huge loss and with the RepubliCON GOPe Uniparty Cucks expressing their hate for us by tanking the mid terms the 250th anniversary is looking pretty somber to me.
Tulsi is a very special citizen-soldier and PATRIOT. What a fantastic role model for young women (and men) today.
I know.
Last year my daughter got to go on stage with her and received a big hug.
She thinks the world of Tulsi.
How about multi-jobs Marco Rubio ?
Memes aside, no. He has his hands full and then the question become who replaced him.
Prayers to Tulsi and her husband
Finding a replacement will be difficult bec she took it personal bec the Intel Comm make it personal!
Tucker is crowing how “MAGA is dead” now that we caused the primary loss of Massie. For the sake of healing, should Trump nominate Massie?
😜
Good grief, Tucker as the arbiter of MAGA is a study in the ridiculous.
How he has anyone listening to him any longer baffles me. It makes me wonder if someone is sneaking him magic mushrooms or something.
Massie would still have his seat if he hadn’t bucked all things MAGA and America First. Maybe he’ll take his not MAGA wife and tinker on his off the grid homestead.
He gets my nomination for onsite caretaker of said property. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if he leaves. He craves the attention he’s been getting.
Tucker’s political leverage is zero. The primaries have proven that. In fact, the influence of podcasters in general seems to be overblown completely except to the clowns like those on the left that swallow everything that is fed to them.
He very publicly torched his relationship with the President. That reveals much about a man.
See my reply above to Greg.
No
Let him crow. He and the rest of the CON influencers don’t have the power they think they have.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/05/kentucky_just_humiliated_the_podcast_right.html
If Devin Nunes is open to the position he offers the following advantages.
He has knowledge of Russia, Russia hoax and the abuses surrounding it.
He’s been a member of the Go8 and ranking member of the HPSCI so his security credentials are bona fide and can’t be argued against by the Democommunists.
He would be criticized as PT’s lackey but we could point out that Nunes won the battle of credibility in the Battle of the Dueling Memos versus Liddle Adam Schiff.
No, thank you.
As our awareness of the scope of the IC situation has clarified, he is not the man for the job.
He was fine all those years ago but he is not on the leading edge of understanding and wanting to actively rectify the IC conundrum.
Years ago, I thought Trey Gowdy was a bulldog when the IRS and Benghazi scandals happened. What did he do? He left the ring for a show on Faux News. Fool me once…
FTA,
The only way Nunes would take the job is if two things changed. First, he now believed the construct of the United States intelligence apparatus is teetering on the edge of irreversible corruption (he did not previously hold this position); and second, if he sees that Tulsi has now proven the power of the DNI in the intelligence apparatus. As readers here will fully understand, until DNI Gabbard that power was never fully extended.
I agree. I have no problem with Nunes, but I think he lacks the edge, fortitude and intelligence that is needed and Gabbard had in spades. Nunes hatched Kash, and they travel the same lane.
My nominee is Julian Assange.
God Bless the Gabbards. Tulsi showed more testicles than probably anyone I have seen in my lifetime. She hung in there and learned and proceeded. I know there is a slew of brave patriots out there, but damn, Tulsi did this sh!t at a time that is pivotal in America. A time when offing someone is standard operational procedure!!! She is someone that will go down in history as a true patriot. And a hat tip to Sundance for a flashlight to show the way.
“Trey Gowdy or former HPSCI Chairman Mike Rogers”.
Oh Pleeeze HELL NO!!!
Rooster head? Um… NO!
This is a big loss. She is one of a kind amongst an army of swap people.
I really liked Tulsi at DNI, she had been targeted by munchkins in the IC and then was put in a position to make it right. And she did — she was both fearless and honest. POTUS is right, she will be missed and my prayers go out to Abraham for a quick and complete recovery.
We need an innocent person who has been targeted, like Tulsi and RFK jr. That experience gives them the knowledge and motivation to do what is right, and to ignore the propaganda that they know from first hand experience is BS. People like that are rare, which is why I will miss DNI Gabbard.
Godspeed, Tulsi. And thank you.
Just when the getting was getting good . . . .
I thought of Devin Nunes, too, but didn’t know his feelings on the matter. How about Rick Grenell? He did an EXCELLENT job as Acting DNI during President Trump’s first term! If Aaron Lukas will do a good job, that is fine, too. Grenell would surely be an asset (and could work with Lukas) but may not want the job.
Tulsi is my absolute FAVORTE, but I agree that family always comes FIRST–and hope and pray for her husband’s COMPLETE & TOTAL HEALING in Jesus’ HOLY NAME; amen!!!!!!!
Grenell , did he want Rubio’s position early on?
Right, he battled–and recovered from–cancer years ago and has said that he looks at life and where you put your time differently ever since.
I’d go with either Edward Snowden b/c he exposed massive global surveillance programs (PRISM, bulk collection, etc.) and continues to criticize IC overreach, secrecy, and constitutional violations from exile.
Or William Binney who as a former NSA technical director has engaged in extensive international speaking and advocacy tours criticizing NSA surveillance programs post-9/11.
None of these names have been a victim like Tulsi. I dont see any of them motivated to really kick azz as she was doing.
Actually, Snowden and Binney BOTH were victims!
Bill Binney.
Hey, I hear John Bolton is unemployed….
/sarc
I’d love to see Harriet Hageman‘s name in this conversation.
I agree. She’d be a great repalcement.
Ric Grenell or Admiral Rogers ( they wirer tapped your campaign)