Tulsi Gabbard, the outgoing Director of National Intelligence, shared an emotional update on social media platform X on Thursday. She revealed that her husband, Abraham Williams, is recuperating at home following an extensive surgery that lasted nearly seven hours to address a “very rare sacral chordoma.”
In her post, Gabbard stated, “My husband Abraham was diagnosed with a very rare sacral chordoma. The surgery to remove bone and surrounding tissue lasted almost seven hours and was successful.”
She continued, “He had a rough night and is in a lot of pain but is finally home resting. Now recovery begins.”
Gabbard had previously announced her decision to step down from her role as DNI to support Williams in his fight against this extremely rare form of bone cancer. This news was initially reported by Fox News Digital last month.
She informed President Donald Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office in mid-May, with plans to officially conclude her duties at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence by June 30.
Concluding her post, Gabbard expressed gratitude, saying, “We’re so grateful for the outpouring of prayers and kind messages from all of you. Our hearts are full,” while disclosing the exact nature of the diagnosis for the first time.
Trump announced Tuesday he appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte as acting DNI to succeed Gabbard.
“During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Gabbard assumed office in February 2025 and is a US Army Reserve officer and combat veteran. She previously served in Congress for multiple terms as a Democrat before leaving the party to become an independent and later joining the Republican Party.
Fox News Digital exclusively obtained her formal resignation letter, in which Gabbard says she is “deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half.”
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”
Gabbard said her husband “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months.”
“At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” she said.
Gabbard added: “Abraham has been my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage — standing steadfast through my deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission, multiple political campaigns and now my service in this role.”
She wrote that she “cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.”
Trump responded to the resignation on Truth Social, writing that she “rightfully” wants to support her husband during a tough battle.
“I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her,” he wrote.
A sacral chordoma is a rare, slow-growing cancerous bone tumor that develops in the sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spine above the tailbone.
The National Cancer Institute describes chordoma as a rare bone cancer that can develop at the base of the skull, in the spine or at the end of the spine in the sacrum or coccyx.
