Navigating Iran crisis, Trump relies on experience over star power
Gabbard, Hegseth outside the inner circle as president weighs military actions against Iran.
"... as Trump
faces a critical decision about whether to join Israel’s military strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, perhaps the most momentous of his presidency, neither Gabbard nor Hegseth are playing starring roles as members of Trump’s inner circle of advisers, according to current and former U.S. officials and people close to the White House.
Trump instead has turned to a small group of lower-key but more experienced aides, these people said.
The “Tier One” group advising on a potential U.S. strike on Iran is composed of Vice President JD Vance, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to an outside White House adviser, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive dynamics. ..."