Shelby Talcott

Trump during his meeting with the Japanese PM is asked why he didn’t alert allies before the Iran attack. He says that “you don't want to signal too much” and adds: “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

“I’m not putting troops anywhere, if I were I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” Trump says on troops on the ground in Iran. “But I’m not putting troops.”

Trump tonight says the US “knew nothing” about Israel’s attack on a gas facility in Iran and promises that Israel will not instigate any further attacks on this area “unless Iran unwisely decides to attack” Qatar. Notably, I’m told the administration was made aware of this attack (but played no role in it). I was also told by an official that the US backed it as a message to Tehran, which continues to block the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, one official also said, doesn’t want further strikes in this moment, but noted he can always change his mind depending on Iran’s next steps:

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 @ShelbyTalcott joined @KatiePavlich in studio to discuss Joe Kent being under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, according to four of her sources. Shelby was told the investigation pre-dates his departure. More below ⬇️⬇️

Looking forward to speaking with @ShelbyTalcott about her reporting at 10 pm on @KatiePavlichNN

More here: semafor.com/article/03/18/…

A fourth source confirms this to me. WH and FBI declining to comment.

News: Joe Kent is under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, three sources tell me. I’m told the investigation pre-dates his departure.

NEWS: Tillis tells me this AM he's still planning to stop Warsh's Fed nomination from advancing after Pirro said she'd appeal Friday's decision to throw out her subpoenas. "Miran can still remain there in the expired term of Kugler and life will go on until 292 days expires or the investigation does." "There's only one way out of a box canyon; only one way out. And I think that they just need to recognize that all they're doing is delaying the confirmation of a good nominee. And I told Mr. Wash, when he was sitting in this chair, my position is as important for him as it is for the current Fed chair." Story TK.

I’m told the US was aware of the Israeli strike against the gas facility in Iran, but did not play a part in the attack. Notable as the Trump administration has previously been wary (for a few reasons) of striking certain infrastructure in Iran… (Confirming Axios)

Gabbard says that “Iran’s strategic position has been significantly degraded” and that “even if the regime remains intact, the IC assesses that internal tensions are likely to increase as Iran's economy worsens.” And: “Even so, Iran and its proxies continue to attack US and allied interests in the Middle East. The IC assesses that if a hostile regime survives, it will likely seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its military missiles and UAV forces.”

Gabbard says the “IC assesses that China and Russia present the most persistent and active threats, and are continuing their R&D efforts.”

Is DNI Gabbard's job in jeopardy, after Joe Kent's dramatic resignation? I asked @PressSec: LEAVITT: "Not to my knowledge, I haven't heard the president say that - so obviously that's a question for him, but I haven't heard him say that at all."

Trump still has full confidence in Tulsi Gabbard, @PressSec tells @DanaPerino and @BillHemmer.

President Trump just posted on Truth Social a post from Joe Kent in 2020 that said “we should not sit and wait for the next attack, wipe Iran’s ballistic capability out and get our troops out of Iraq- they are only targets now.”

The White House sent Sens. Collins and Britt this letter detailing the immigration enforcement changes they are willing to make to fund DHS -body cameras -limit enforcement at sensitive locations -oversight -visible officer identification -no deporting US citizens

Full DOJ statement on the Bondi subpoena: “This subpoena is completely unnecessary. Lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files for themselves at the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress. She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow.  As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts.”

DOJ spox says Comer’s subpoena is “completely unnecessary” and argues that Bondi “has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress.” Adds: “She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow.  As always, we look forward to continuing to provide policymakers with the facts.”

Trump on Joe Kent’s resignation: “I always thought he was a nice guy, but I thought he was very weak on security. Very weak on security. I didn't know him well, but I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read his statement, I realized that it's a good thing that he's out, because he said Iran was not a threat?”

Director of the National Counterterrorism Center resigns, citing the ongoing war in Iran: