Gabbard Drops Bombshell: Washington Post Used ‘Burner Phones’ to Bypass Security Protocols
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has accused the leftist Washington Post national security reporter Ellen Nakashima of bypassing proper protocols and harassing intelligence officials in an alleged effort to obtain sensitive information.
Gabbard detailed what she described as an ongoing pattern of misconduct, claiming the reporter used deceptive tactics to pressure senior officials at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
“It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing ODNI staff,” Gabbard wrote on X.
“Instead of reaching out to my press office, she is calling high-level Intelligence Officers from a burner phone, refusing to identify herself, lying about the fact that she works for the Washington Post, and then demanding they share sensitive information.”
Gabbard also alleged that Nakashima’s methods represented a broader political effort by the outlet to interfere with President Donald Trump’s national security strategy.
“Apparently, publishing leaked classified material wasn’t enough for the Washington Post, so now they’ve decided to go after the Intelligence professionals charged to protect it,” Gabbard said in her post.
“This is a clear political op by the same outlet and the same reporter who harassed and stalked my family in Hawaii.”
“This kind of deranged behavior reflects a media establishment so desperate to sabotage @POTUS’s successful agenda that they’ve abandoned even a facade of journalistic integrity and ethics,” she continued.
“The Washington Post should be ashamed, and they should put an end to this immediately.”
Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray defended the reporter’s work in a statement.
“For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security,” Murray said.
“Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press statements regarding matters of public interest is neither nefarious nor is it harassment. It is basic journalism.”
“DNI Gabbard’s unfounded personal attack reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about the role of journalists to report on government officials and hold power to account, without fear or favor and regardless of party,” he added.
“The Post remains committed to that vital and constitutionally protected work.”
Gabbard’s allegations came amid broader scrutiny of legacy media coverage related to President Trump’s recent foreign policy actions, including Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
While Trump has credited the operation with destroying key enrichment sites used by the Iranian regime, several news outlets, including CNN, described the results of the mission using more cautious language, such as “partially destroyed.”
Trump pushed back on those reports and criticized the outlets’ coverage.
“The sites that we hit in Iran were totally destroyed, and everyone knows it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Only the Fake News would say anything different in order to try and demean, as much as possible — and even they say they were ‘pretty well destroyed!’”
The president also named media figures and organizations, including CNN host Anderson Cooper.
“It never ends with the sleazebags in the Media, and that’s why their Ratings are at an ALL TIME LOW — ZERO CREDIBILITY!” Trump said.
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