Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has accused The Washington Post and one of its national security reporters of harassing members of her intelligence staff and bypassing formal communication procedures.
Gabbard made the allegation in a post on X, stating that reporter Ellen Nakashima was contacting senior intelligence officials using a burner phone.
According to Gabbard, the reporter refused to identify herself, denied working for the Post, and requested sensitive information.
Gabbard asserted that Nakashima avoided contacting the press office and instead went directly to intelligence officers, which she described as inappropriate and deceptive behavior.
She accused the newspaper of escalating its conduct after previously publishing leaked classified information, suggesting that the outlet is now targeting the individuals responsible for protecting national secrets.
Gabbard also claimed that Nakashima had previously harassed her family in Hawaii, referencing an incident she described as “stalking,” per the Conservative Brief.
She suggested the reporter’s current actions are part of a broader political effort.
She described the behavior as reflective of a desperate media attempting to undermine President Donald Trump’s administration and claimed it exposed a lack of journalistic ethics.
“The Washington Post should be ashamed,” Gabbard wrote. She called for the paper to immediately halt what she characterized as inappropriate conduct.
In response, Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray issued a statement defending Nakashima and denying any misconduct.
He described Nakashima as a well-respected national security reporter with a long-standing reputation for fairness and professionalism.
Murray rejected the idea that contacting potential sources directly, rather than going through official press channels, amounted to harassment. He said this approach is a standard part of journalism.
He called Gabbard’s allegations a “personal attack” and claimed they revealed a misunderstanding of journalism’s role in holding government accountable.
Alexa Henning, Gabbard’s deputy chief of staff, posted her own message on X, stating that The Washington Post’s response was “not a denial.”
The Gabbard team also pointed to past incidents involving the newspaper, including claims that it has previously crossed lines in its coverage of Gabbard and her associates.
In November, following Gabbard’s nomination as DNI, her former chief of staff, Kainoa Penaroza, accused Post reporter Jon Swaine of showing up at his home and pursuing former staff members.
More recently, Gabbard confirmed that reports from CNN and The New York Times about U.S. airstrikes on Iran were based on limited and selectively chosen parts of intelligence reports.
The two outlets claimed anonymous sources said early assessments suggested the strikes had less impact than originally stated.
CNN reported that this initial analysis conflicted with President Trump’s public comments that the strikes had thoroughly destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Gabbard indicated that the intelligence community’s full assessment is still ongoing and that conclusions could change as more information emerges.
