Reports indicate that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was excluded from initial planning meetings for the operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Sources suggest this was due to past statements by Gabbard opposing military intervention in Venezuela and President Trump's desire to limit knowledge of the operation. However, Vice President JD Vance and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung deny she was sidelined, stating she provided valuable intelligence and that the operation was kept tight at senior levels. An ODNI spokeswoman noted Gabbard lauded the operation's execution.