According to a New York Times report, former President Donald Trump is enlisting Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman, to sharpen his debate strategies ahead of his upcoming face-off with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sources familiar with Trump’s schedule indicate that Gabbard, who had an important role in Trump’s debate preparations, participated in a practice session at Mar-a-Lago. The debate between Trump and Harris is set to air on ABC News on September 10.
Trump brings in Tulsi Gabbard to refine his debate strategy against Kamala Harris, drawing on her past clashes with the VP
Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party after her 2020 presidential bid and gained prominence among Trump’s supporters, has maintained a cordial relationship with him. At one point, there was speculation about her being considered as Trump’s potential running mate. Her involvement in Trump’s debate prep is partly attributed to her standout performance in a 2019 Democratic primary debate where she challenged Harris.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump, confirmed Gabbard’s role, highlighting Trump’s prowess as a debater. Leavitt noted that while Trump excels in debates, he values the input of respected advisers like Gabbard, who had a successful encounter with Harris in 2020.
Although Trump claims he doesn’t require traditional debate prep, he has spent more time preparing this year compared to his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, as reported by the New York Times. His preparation includes extensive discussions with advisers and practice sessions, though he does not engage in conventional debate prep, such as role-playing Biden.
In the run-up to his CNN debate with Biden in June, Trump had extensive preparation involving mock sessions where his aides posed as moderators. Representative Matt Gaetz and other lawmakers participated, posing challenging questions and engaging with Trump on policy issues.
Gabbard’s role in the debate prep is noteworthy as she has previously confronted Harris on the debate stage, criticizing her record as a prosecutor. Gabbard accused Harris of incarcerating over 1,500 individuals for marijuana violations and obstructing evidence that could have freed an innocent man from death row.
In response, Harris defended her record, emphasizing her commitment to substantive work over mere speeches. Following their debate, Harris mocked Gabbard’s low polling numbers, and both candidates eventually exited the race in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
