Gabbard tipped to help Trump with Harris debate prep

In a stunning twist of political fate, two women who were once members of the same party are now poised for at least indirect battle on the presidential debate stage.

Having exited the Democratic Party in favor of independent status, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by former President Donald Trump to assist in his preparations for an upcoming debate against Kamala Harris, as Fox News reports.

Tapping into experience

As Trump prepares to meet Harris in a debate next months, it perhaps should come as no surprise that he would value Gabbard's input on how best to approach the confrontation.

Gabbard herself made headlines back in 2019 for taking the then-senator to task over her record as California's attorney general, blasting her for putting people behind bars for marijuana-related offenses while having boasted about her own indulgence in the drug.

During their heated exchange, Gabbard said of Harris, “She kept in people in prisons beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California, and she fought to keep a cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way.”

In confirming the former president's collaboration with Gabbard, campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, “President Trump has proven to be one of the best debaters in political history as evidenced by his knockout blow to Joe Biden.”

“He does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisors and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard, who successfully dominated Kamala Harris on the debate stage,” she added.

No love lost

The contempt Gabbard clearly has for Harris that was so evident on the debate stage in 2019 remains strong, something that was evidenced during the ex-lawmaker's appearance last week on Fox News' America's Newsroom.

Gabbard stated, “I think she revealed [in the prior debate] the same thing that I think her campaign handlers are worried about right now...Kamala Harris is an empty suit.”

“They are trying to create this new version of Kamala Harris to match what their pollsters are telling them, so she can say whatever she needs to say to try to win over voters, which is the most offensive thing, I think, because they think we're so stupid as to forget what her record actually is,” Gabbard went on.

Gabbard had some words of warning as the election season continues, declaring, “And that's going to be the key thing here for voters...is that Kamala Harris will say whatever she thinks she needs to say. We have to pay attention to her actions, because on every single major issue, you will see the same kind of hypocrisy that I pointed out in 2019 where she'll say one thing, but her record tells a very, very different story.”

Confrontation just weeks away

As ABC News noted, after much back and forth and disagreement about terms, the presidential candidates ultimately agreed to meet on the debate stage on Sept. 10.

Trump, for his part, said, “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight,” suggesting his readiness to press Harris hard on the issues and force her to offer real explanations of her positions in key areas.

Harris, for her part, also confirmed plans for participation and sarcastically quipped, “I hope he shows up,” perhaps offering a sign of the highly contentious tone the candidates' interactions may well take when all eyes will assuredly be on Philadelphia.