Fox News reported that former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has teamed up with former President Donald Trump to enhance his debate strategies against Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming 2024 elections.
Former President Donald Trump has coordinated with Tulsi Gabbard, known for her strong showing in past debates, specifically for her 2019 confrontation with Kamala Harris over judicial decisions.
Tulsi Gabbard, who previously vied for the presidential nomination in the Democratic primaries of 2020, criticized Kamala Harris sharply during a debate, particularly highlighting Harris's record on marijuana violations and broader criminal justice issues during her tenure as Attorney General. This moment is considered one of the defining exchanges of the 2020 primary debates.
After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard declared herself an independent and has since been associated more with conservative circles, which aligns with her recent activity in supporting Trump. Her political transition reflects her growing ideological shifts and disagreements with her former party.
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida estate and club, Gabbard has already participated in a practice session, bringing her debate prowess directly to Trump's 2024 campaign strategy. Her involvement is intended to prep Trump on potential challenges posed by Harris, given Gabbard's previous direct engagements with the Vice President during debates.
The Trump campaign has publicly lauded his abilities as a debater while announcing that Trump would continue to consult with Gabbard.
"President Trump has proven to be one of the best debaters in political history... He does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisors and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard," said Karoline Leavitt, Trump's National Press Secretary.
Gabbard's provocative stance on Harris during the Democratic primary debates shed light on potential vulnerabilities, as she criticized Harris for her actions as attorney general and contrasted them with her public statements. Gabbard highlighted a discrepancy between Harris's rhetoric and her record.
In her defense, Vice President Kamala Harris cited her substantive impact in office, contrasting it with legislative speeches. She emphasized the tangible outcomes of her tenure in law enforcement.
During a 2019 debate, Gabbard challenged Harris by stating, "She put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana." This powerful critique re-emerged as Gabbard prepared Trump for the debates against Harris.
Gabbard further elucidated her view of Harris during an interview, underscoring the weaknesses she perceives in Harris's campaign.
I think she revealed in that [July 2019] debate the same thing that I think her campaign handlers are worried about right now... Kamala Harris is an empty suit. What she said was very different than what she actually did, and she had no answer for it.
The narrative around the 2019 Democratic primary debate and its aftermath highlights the strategic use of previous debate performances in current political campaign strategies. With Gabbard's insights into Harris's debate style and potential weak points, Donald Trump is looking to leverage past confrontations to aid his current debate preparations.
To recap, the collaboration between former President Donald Trump and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard focuses on refining debate tactics against Vice President Kamala Harris in preparation for the 2024 presidential debates. Trump's campaign involves prominent figures like Gabbard to prepare against Harris's debating style, tracing back to their significant exchange during the 2020 primaries.
