President Donald Trump is increasingly leaning on a tight circle of advisers as he considers potential military action against Iran regarding its nuclear program. Discussions are happening both within the White House and with a broader range of outside allies. Key advisers include Vice President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Notably, Trump’s decision-making process has sidelined National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who is against U.S. strikes in Iran, and he has reportedly not been frequently consulting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. However, Hegseth’s spokesperson challenged claims of his limited involvement, asserting he speaks with Trump multiple times daily.
As Trump weighs the possibility of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, he is consulting military leaders such as Gen. Dan Caine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that a decision is expected within two weeks. Unlike previous administrations, Trump does not systematically rely on senior officials for structured foreign policy discussions. Instead, his approach tends to be informal, leading to fewer opportunities for his team to challenge his views. This became apparent when Trump unexpectedly announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria after meeting the Saudi Crown Prince, catching senior officials off guard.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has significantly reduced the role of the National Security Council, traditionally responsible for preparing policy options and analyzing their impacts, especially regarding military actions.
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