Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) speaks after speaking during a town hall meeting with former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on August 29, 2024 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dance as you leave the stage.
Kamil Krzaczynski | AFP | Getty Images
Former Democratic Congressman. Tulsi Gabbardwho supports Republican ex-President Donald Trumpcampaign, suggesting Republican nominee focus on vice president Kamala Harris‘The coming policy shift debate.
Harris “has shown that she is trying to move away from her record and move away from her stance,” Gabbard He said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
Gabbard is part of a group of Trump advisers who are helping the former president prepare for the debate, which is scheduled to air on ABC on September 10.
The Trump campaign insists the candidates will not participate in traditional role-playing debate practice sessions. Still, given Gabbard’s first-hand experience during the campaign, she’s well-suited to help Trump understand what a debate with Harris would look like. 2020 Democratic Primary competition.
“What I called out on the debate stage in 2020 was her hypocrisy,” Gabbard said.
In July 2019, Gabbard launched a noteworthy attack on Harris during a Democratic primary debate, noting that as a prosecutor, Harris served time in prison for marijuana violations and accusing Harris of her role in eliminating cash bail. not enough.
thenCriminal justice reform is a very popular issue among Democratic primary voters.
Five years later, Republicans hope Trump can repeat Gabbard’s success in angering Harris, albeit on a completely different topic.
“Kamala Harris is trying to hide from voters,” Gabbard said Sunday. “She says her position is one thing, but her actions and record say exactly the opposite.”
Compared to Harris’ 2019 Democratic primary platform, her 2024 election policies are more center than left-wing, especially on issues like hydraulic fracturing and fracking. migrant.
For Trump, however, taking Gabbard’s advice could come with risks as well as potential rewards.
The former congresswoman from Hawaii agrees with Trump’s conspiracy views on how the Biden administration wields power. often accuse The White House targets “political opponents,” including herself.
If Trump leans into such conspiracy themes on the debate stage, he could risk drawing attention to his various legal battles and even alienating undecided voters.
Still, like Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.The former Democrat turned third-party presidential candidate recently dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, allowing Republicans to portray his campaign as a haven for independents and Democratic defectors.
The Trump campaign recently added Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to its official transition team, and both are reportedly in talks for potential Cabinet positions if Trump wins the White House.
