Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth out: Meet Trump's 'Tier One' group deciding on Iran

As President Donald Trump weighs in on the Middle East crisis, dropping all indications that he may strike Iran, reports claimed that he is relying on a high-profile group of Cabinet picks and not those who are supposed to be advising him by the virtue of their posts: Defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Instead, Trump is leaning more on Vice President JD Vance, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

This group of four is also being called the "Tier One Group". Another crucial member is Army Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, which has operational authority for the Middle East.

Why Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard sidelined? 'Experience over star power'

Pete Hegseth served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba but he is more of an ex-Fox star. Tulsi Gabbard is a war veteran but she has apparently upset Trump by issuing a video where she spoke against fresh conflicts and said "political elite warmongers" are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers. The Washington Post reported that Trump even confronted Gabbard at a White House meeting while others were present and said: "I saw the video, and I didn't like it."In March, Gabbard testified that US intelligence agencies asserted that Iran has not started a nuclear weapons program. Trump recently shot down the remark and said he doesn't care what Tulsi Gabbard said. Trump said he thinks Iran is very close to having one nuclear program.

Both Hegseth and Gabbard camps downplayed their diminishing importance. Gabbard said she and the president were on the same page. But Gabbard was not there when Trump held a meeting on June 8 at Camp David presidential retreat. Insiders believe Trump is prioritizing experience over star power. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said it is not true that Hegseth had been sidelined. “The Secretary is speaking with the President multiple times a day each day and has been with the President in the Situation Room this week,” Parnell said in a statement. “Secretary Hegseth is providing the leadership the Department of Defense and our Armed Forces need, and he will continue to work diligently in support of President Trump’s peace through strength agenda.”