U.S. President Trump is increasingly depending on a tight circle of trusted advisers as he deliberates over whether to authorize U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to two defense officials and a senior administration official who spoke with NBC News. Another senior official noted that Trump has also been informally gauging opinions from allies both inside and outside his administration, essentially crowdsourcing views on whether to move forward with the strikes.

Despite these broader consultations, decision-making remains concentrated among a small inner circle at the White House. Key voices influencing the president include Vice President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. Meanwhile, several senior officials—such as National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who is firmly against U.S. military action, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—have reportedly been sidelined from the process.