President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is ‘wrong’ in her assessment that Iran is not close to building a nuclear weapon.

Trump’s comments came after he departed Air Force One en route to his Bedminister, New Jersey, golf club, when he stepped aside to take a few questions from reporters. 

‘She’s wrong,’ Trump said after he was asked about Gabbard’s assessment that Iran is not close to building a nuclear weapon. ‘My intelligence community is wrong.’

Trump’s remarks were preceded by a question from a reporter asking the president, who publicly opposed the Iraq war roughly 20 years ago, what made this situation with Iran different – considering no weapons of mass destruction were ever found after the George W. Bush administration invaded Iraq. 

‘There were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were. That was somewhat pre-nuclear. You know, it was –  there was a nuclear age, but nothing like it is today,’ Trump said. ‘And it looked like I’m right about the material that they’ve gathered already [in Iran]. It’s a tremendous amount of material. And I think within a matter of weeks, or certainly within a matter of months, [Iran was] going to be able to have a nuclear weapon. We can’t let that happen.’

In March, DNI Gabbard said during an opening statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee that that the intelligence community ‘continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.’

Meanwhile, last week Gabbard posted a cryptic three and a half minute video on X last week, warning of the risks of a potential nuclear war, and blasting ‘warmongers’ for bringing the world ‘closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation than ever before.’

President Donald Trump said aboard Air Force One earlier this week that he doesn’t care what Gabbard says, ‘I think they were very close to having one,’ when pressed on the pair’s divergent opinions. 

This week, according to The Guardian, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Gabbard’s assessment has been ‘reconfirmed’ by current intelligence.

Fox News Digital reached out to Gabbard’s office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

While Democratic senators are blaming President Donald Trump for the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Republicans are urging the president to continue standing in support of Israel as it attempts to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities.

This comes as Israel and Iran, two major powers in the Middle East, are locked in a heavy missile war. Israel, a U.S. ally, has been targeting Iranian nuclear facilities with the intent of keeping Iran from utilizing nuclear weapons, something Trump has long advocated.

Following intense speculation that Trump would join the conflict by launching a U.S. strike on Iran, the White House issued a statement from the president in which he said there is a ‘substantial chance’ for renewed negotiations to end the conflict. In the statement, Trump said he would decide which path to take in the next two weeks.

The White House has said that any deal with Iran would have to include a full commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, including no uranium enrichment, a necessary step to developing nuclear weapons. Iran has said it will not accept an agreement with a zero enrichment provision. 

Speaking with Fox News Digital in the halls of the Capitol, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Trump for pulling the U.S. out of a nuclear agreement of which Iran was a part during his first term. 

‘The way to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon is through negotiation,’ she said. ‘We actually had that deal, and Donald Trump threw it out the window.‘

That means we lost our inspectors, we lost the plans that had been made,’ she continued.

‘Right now, we need more deconfliction in the area. We need to bring down the temperature between Israel and Iran. That’s what’s best for Israel and Iran, it’s what’s best for the region and for the whole world,’ said Warren.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also blamed Trump, saying, ‘He’s the one who put us out the deal in the first place,’ which she said ‘very much so’ contributed to the ongoing conflict.

While he said the U.S. should not be involved in bombing missions or any other military action against Iran, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said, What we should do is continue to provide Israel with all the tools they need to defend themselves.’

‘I hope the president will continue to promote a diplomatic solution that we had until he tore it up,’ said Kaine.

Meanwhile, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, told Fox News Digital that the ‘question is can it be resolved without our involvement.’ He said he hopes Iran ‘will see the light and decide they don’t need to keep developing nuclear fuel.’

On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that he believes Trump ‘standing unshakably with the nation of Israel’ is the right move to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Israel is being incredibly effective with their military strike against Iran. They’ve taken out the senior military leadership, the leaders who would wage a war have been one after the other after the other surgically taken out by Israel. They are also taking out missile launch sites, and they’re taking out nuclear research sites, the sites where Iran is working to develop a nuclear weapon,’ Cruz explained.

‘Deterrence is always the key,’ said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Ohio. ‘This president has been very clear he’s all about peace, and he doesn’t want to use the might of the United States unless we absolutely have to. I believe deterrence is the best foreign policy, because it shows peace through strength.’

That being said, Mullin said Trump has he’s been ‘very clear for over a decade: In no way are we going to allow the Iranian regime, who is the number one sponsor of terror around the world, to have a nuclear weapon.’

‘So, we need to be prepared to back up Israel if they’re not able to do the job, then we need to be able to finish it,’ he said.

Look, he has said this for 10 years. He has said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, full stop,’ said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. ‘So, it is not just about [uranium] enrichment, which absolutely should have never happened and cannot happen, but it is also complete and total dismantlement of the nuclear program.’

Diplomats from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union met with Iran’s foreign minister on Friday, urging the country to continue diplomacy with the U.S. one week after stalled nuclear talks escalated into attacks between Iran and Israel. 

‘We are keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran, and we urge Iran to continue their talks with the United States,’ British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. ‘We were clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.’

The meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland, was the first face-to-face with an Iranian leader since last weekend’s flashpoint. 

‘The good result today is that we leave the room with the impression that the Iranian side is fundamentally ready to continue talking about all important issues,’ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. He said the two sides had held ‘very serious talks.’

The meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lasted for more than three hours.

‘Military operations can slow Iran’s nuclear program but in no way can they eliminate it,’ French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said. ‘We know well — after having seen what happened in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Libya — how illusory and dangerous it is to want to impose regime change from outside.’

In a joint statement, France, the U.K., Germany and the E.U. said they shared their ‘grave concerns’ with Araghchi ‘with regard to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and reiterated their firm commitment to Israel’s security,’ adding that ‘all sides should refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and urgently find a negotiated solution to ensure that Iran never obtains or acquires a nuclear weapon.’

Early last Friday, Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites after nuclear talks seemed to stall, causing Iran to retaliate. The two countries continue to trade strikes. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared soon afterward that the strikes were necessary to ‘roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.’

The meeting also comes less than a month after a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency warned the country is swiftly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. 

On Friday, the European diplomats ‘reiterated their longstanding concerns about Iran’s expansion of its nuclear programme, which has no credible civilian purpose, in violation of almost all JCPoA provisions.’

They added that they ‘discussed avenues towards a negotiated solution to Iran’s nuclear programme, while emphasising the urgency of the matter. They expressed their willingness to continue discussing all questions relevant to Iran’s nuclear programme and broader issues,’ urging Iran to cooperate with the IAEA.

Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he may consider a U.S. strike on Iran. 

‘Yes, I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this that Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate,’ Trump told reporters Wednesday on the U.S. potentially striking Iran as it continues trading deadly strikes with Israel. ‘And I said, why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction? Why didn’t you go? I said to people, why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country. It’s very sad to watch this.’

Trump on Friday told reporters the U.S. is ‘willing and able’ to talk to Iran, adding that Iran doesn’t want to talk to Europe. ‘They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to help,’ he said. 

He added that while he was against the war in Iraq in 2003 because he didn’t believe there were weapons on mass destruction, he believes Iran is building a nuclear weapon, saying that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is ‘wrong’ in saying there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that. 

‘The material that they’ve gathered already. It’s a tremendous amount of material. And I think within a matter of weeks, or certainly within a matter of months, they are going to be able to have a nuclear weapon,’ he said. ‘We can’t let that happen.’ 

On Friday, the U.K., France, Germany and EU diplomats, said they also ‘shared their support for discussions to continue’ with Iran and ‘welcomed ongoing US efforts to seek a negotiated solution. They expressed their willingness to meet again in the future.’

 Fox News’ Emma Colton and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

European and Iranian negotiators ended their talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday without a clear breakthrough, but diplomats told The Associated Press they were hopeful of more discussions with the Iranians.

The talks with Iran come a day after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a message from President Trump, stating, ‘Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.’

One former Pentagon official says there is an important issue that is not being discussed.

‘If Iran gives up its nuclear program as Trump has demanded, there’s another problem we’re not talking about, which is how do we get all the nuclear material outside of Iran,’ Michael Rubin, an American Enterprise Institute senior fellow, told Fox News Digital.

Rubin, who has lived in post-revolution Iran, Yemen, and both pre- and postwar Iraq, mentioned that there are a few options available.

‘The United States could do it, but we don’t want boots on the ground.’

He said the International Atomic Energy Agency could be tasked with doing it, adding, ‘Who really trusts the United Nations and U.N. agencies?’

‘If Trump is serious about getting Iran to forfeit its nuclear program, it’s time to start having a conversation with other allies about who could take command, control and custody of this nuclear material until it’s outside of Iran.’

Rubin said he would nominate India to seize the nuclear material.

‘They are trusted by the Americans, they’re trusted by the Israelis and they’re trusted by the Iranians. But we need to start not only being reactive, but also proactive,’ said Rubin

Rubin cited a quote from Margaret Thatcher to George H.W. Bush in 1990 —  ‘Don’t go wobbly on me now, George’ — when Saddam Hussein invaded Iraq. 

‘I suspect Marco Rubio is filling Margaret Thatcher’s britches, that he is the one going around now to our European allies, saying, ‘Don’t go wobbly on me now.,’’ said Rubin.

‘[He] is saying this to everyone else within the European Union and the United Kingdom because if the Europeans have their choice, they’re going to choose quiet over common sense.’

On Thursday, Rubio spoke with counterparts to discuss the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. 

According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, he spoke with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in separate conversations about the ongoing conflict. 

They all agreed to ‘continue to work together closely to commit to a path of peace and ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon,’ Bruce said.

Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency essentially dismantled by DOGE amid complaints from Democrats that cutting waste would harm impoverished countries, is at the center of a massive bribery scandal.

A federal contracting officer and three businessmen have pleaded guilty in a scheme involving bribes like cash, NBA tickets, and a country club wedding in a scandal the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was part of a $550 million scam, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel reported Friday. 

Roderick Watson, 57, worked as a USAID contracting officer, according to a DOJ press release, and pleaded guilty to ‘bribery of a public official.’

According to the DOJ, Watson sold his influence starting in 2013, with contractors Walter Barnes, owner of Vistant, and Darryl Britt, owner of Apprio, funneling payoffs through subcontractor Paul Young to hide their tracks. 

‘During the scheme, Britt and Barnes paid bribes to Watson that were often concealed by passing them through Young, who was the president of another subcontractor to Apprio and Vistant,’ the press release explained. 

‘Britt and Barnes also regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives. The bribes were also often concealed through electronic bank transfers falsely listing Watson on payroll, incorporated shell companies, and false invoices. Watson is alleged to have received bribes valued at more than approximately $1 million as part of the scheme.’

Vistant was awarded in November 2023, as part of a joint venture, a contract worth up to $800 million with one of the focuses of that contract being to address ‘a variety of issues affecting the root causes of irregular migration from Central America to the United States,’ an issue that President Joe Biden tasked then-Vice President Kamala Harris with during his presidency.

Several days later, that contract was canceled after USAID published a notice that said Vistant was excluded from government contracting due to ‘evidence of conduct of a lack of business honesty or integrity.’

The joint venture then successfully sued the government over being put on that exclusion list and was re-awarded the contract and given a $10,000 payment in August 2024. 

‘Corruption in government programs will not be tolerated. Watson abused his position of trust for personal gain while federal contractors engaged in a pay-to-play scheme,’ Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary of the USAID Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG) said in the press release.

‘USAID-OIG is firmly committed to rooting out fraud and corruption within U.S. foreign assistance programs. Today’s announcement underscores our unwavering focus on exposing criminal activity, including bribery schemes by those entrusted to faithfully award government contracts. We appreciate our longstanding partnership with the Department of Justice in holding accountable those who defraud American taxpayers.’    

USAID was one of the public faces and most drastic examples of DOGE’s efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and the effort resulted in the agency’s programs being cut by 83%, while the programs deemed vital were moved to the State Department. 

USAID’s website went dark, and employees were barred from entering its headquarters on Feb. 3, while others had their work put on hold. The Trump administration then announced that all USAID direct-hire personnel would be put on administrative leave.

The agency came under fire for many funding choices, including allocating $1.5 million for a program that sought to ‘advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities’ and a $70,000 program for a ‘DEI musical’ in Ireland.

During DOGE’s sweep, it was revealed that U.S. dollars were ending up in the hands of terror-linked groups, such as funds reportedly providing ‘full funding’ for al-Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki to attend college in Colorado, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

As DOGE was dismantling USAID, many Democrats and media outlets blasted the cuts, claiming they would harm impoverished recipients of aid across the globe and some, including U2 frontman Bono, who said the cuts would lead to over 300,000 deaths. 

Several House and Senate Democrats protested outside of USAID’s headquarters in early February, expressing outrage over the layoffs and cuts, The Hill reported.

‘Anybody who cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, including USAID,’ Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said in the DOJ’s press release. 

Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.