In an emerging scandal, leftist reporter Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post was caught “actively harassing” members of President Trump’s Cabinet and using shady tactics to attempt to obtain sensitive national security information, according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
For background, on July 3, 2025, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard directly called out Washington Post journalist Ellen Nakashima for calling “high-level intelligence officers” using a burner phone instead of reaching out to the NI press office. Gabbard described this brazen move as “a political op” and pointed to similar measures taken by Washington Post journalist Jon Swaine in late 2024.
Writing about Nakashima’s alleged harassment in her July 3, 2025, X post, Director Gabbard was extremely stern and explained the situation in detail, saying, “It has come to my attention that Washington Post reporter @nakashimae appears to be actively harassing ODNI staff.”
Continuing, the National Intelligence director said, “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.”
Moreover, Director Gabbard went on to rip into the Washington Post, saying, “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.” She added, “This is a clear political op by the same outlet and the same reporter who harassed and stalked my family in Hawaii,” referring to a 2024 incident in which a Washington Post journalist traveled to Hawaii and aggressively attempted to contact individuals connected to Gabbard.
Concluding her rebuke of Nakashima and her workplace, Director Gabbard said, “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 added, “The Washington Post should be ashamed, and they should put an end to this immediately.”
In response to Director Gabbard’s post, Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray issued a statement defending Nakashima, writing, “For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security.” He added, “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.”
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Moreover, Murray said that Director Gabbard’s “unfounded personal attack” showed that she had 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 concluded, “The Post remains committed to that vital and constitutionally protected work.”
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