How did former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard go from endorsing Bernie Sanders to allegedly being on Donald Trump’s vice-presidential shortlist? Tulsi, who recently released her newest book, "For Love of Country," joins Glenn to explain what all changed. She addresses the rumors about whether she’s talked to Trump about being VP and whether she’d join his administration as Secretary of Defense. Plus, she lays out the 2 most critical questions that voters should be asking when choosing between Trump and Biden in the election.
TranscriptBelow is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: Tulsi Gabbard, welcome to the program, how are you?
TULSI: Very good, my friend. How are you?
GLENN: I am good. I am good.
Are you in Hawaii? Right now.
TULSI: I'm in Virginia, today.
GLENN: Okay.
TULSI: And tomorrow. And Texas the day after. I'm on the road, living out of a suitcase.
GLENN: Oh, boy.
Okay. First of all, you're on a short list.
And I'm not going to ask you anything other than, have you had a conversation with him, about being vice president?
TULSI: I've spoken to him. I will talk about what we've spoken about. I have met and spoken to him.
GLENN: That's fine. Would you serve in any capacity in a Trump administration?
TULSI: I would serve in a capacity where I felt that I could actually be effective in helping to get our country back on track, both in domestic policy, and foreign policy.
GLENN: So, Tulsi, you know I respect you. I really like you.
We disagree on things. You were a former Bernie Sanders supporter.
You know, but I also know, you love the Constitution.
And America.
And the country.
And just finding somebody who loves America, is very hard to find right now.
Can you help me out on understanding the Bernie Sanders to, you know, I would be willing to serve in a Trump administration.
TULSI: Of course. I'm glad you asked. Because it is on its face, kind of a -- a big mental -- a mental leap. But when you actually look at the reason, when I made that announcement, back in 2016, to resign as vice chair of the DNC, so that I could get involved in that democratic presidential primary, I focused on one thing.
I announced my endorsement of Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton, around foreign policy.
Bernie Sanders of today is even the different now, than he was back then. On this -- on some of these foreign policy issues.
But there was a very clear contract between Hillary Clinton, the queen of warmongers. And Bernie Sanders, who has for a long time, largely been more of a noninterventionist.
And I was frustrated because as an officer of the DNC, I couldn't, you know, according to the rules, get involved or speak out publicly.
But as you remember, Glenn, people were saying Hillary Clinton was the most qualified person to ever run for president in the history of our country.
But, of course -- I know. I still laugh when I think about that.
GLENN: Yeah.
TULSI: And it wasn't just her campaign people who were saying this. It was supposedly serious people on, you know, the different cable shows. And the broadcast news shows.
And the Meet the Press type shows.
But they never went behind. Okay. She held this title and that title and that title.
It would never go into what her record actually was. The kinds of decisions that she made.
The things that she influenced and urged President Obama to do as Secretary of State.
And for me, as an American citizen, as a soldier and a veteran of various wars and conflicts, I felt strongly about the fact that Hillary Clinton would be the most dangerous president and commander-in-chief for our country. Our freedom, our security, and our liberty.
And so I took the opportunity to make that endorsement of Bernie Sanders, around that issue, so that I could have a platform to call her out directly to the American people. So that at a minimum, they could make a more informed decision, about who they wanted, to be the democratic presidential nominee for that time.
GLENN: So the -- that explains an awful lot.
The State Department, you know, has been off the rails for a hundred years. They're very warmongering. What's happening in Ukraine is obscene.
And strangely, I think since Ronald Reagan and I think even more so than Ronald Reagan. But it was a different time.
Donald Trump is the least -- he understands peace through strength, but he is the least likely to go to war.
And yet, the left keeps saying, he's a warmonger.
TULSI: It's their tried and true tactic. And you see them doing this, not only with an issue with seriousness as war and peace.
But you also see how they're doing it around democracy. You know, they're claiming, he will be the dictator in chief, or this will be the last election that's held if he wins. And so on and so forth.
And yet, we look at how they're weaponizing the Department of Justice. All they're doing to both target and prosecute, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Donald Trump.
But also going after everyday Americans, whose names will never be in the headlines. Because they are the, quote, unquote, political opposition.
The undermining of free speech. The undermining of the rule of law.
And yet, they cloak all of this. And try to distract and deflect attention from the American people, and the reality of how they are destroying their democracy, right before their very eyes. And they do so, by saying, Donald Trump is the biggest enemy of democracy.
They are the doing same thing around foreign policy. The thing that I'm urging Americans to do across the country. Both through my book, love of country, but also in every platform or speech, where people will have me. Is to look at the facts. This is the first time in our lifetimes, we've had a presidential election, where we actually have two people who served in the White House, with a very real record, for us to examine.
GLENN: Compare.
TULSI: And take the emotions aside. People have strong feelings, one way or another.
And there's -- and that's what a lot of the Democrats and Biden people focus on. Because they're afraid that we will actually compare and contrast their record on border security, on education, on fairness for women and girls in sports and education, on the economy and inflation.
You know, they'll -- on criminal justice reform.
Something the Democrats claim to be for.
And also, of course, first and foremost. Foreign policy.
Ask how secure is our country today. And where are our taxpayer dollars being dedicated?
In each of these areas and more, there's a very clear contrast, between President Biden and President Trump. And to me, what it all comes down to. Are the two most core critical questions.
As you pointed out, are rooted in the Constitution. Is number one, who -- who actually has served the interests of the American people, and our country.
And our ability to live in a safe, free, peaceful, and prosperous society?
And number two, who has -- who has either defended or assaulted our fundamental rights and freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution?
Freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Freedom of religion.
Our civil liberties are guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment. And, again, when you look at these metrics, there is -- there is no question, about the difference between President Biden and President Trump.
GLENN: Let me ask you, why should somebody, and I don't mean this just to you. I mean, this for anybody.
Even Joe Biden, Donald Trump.
Why should we believe, when we have not seen one for a very long time?
And when they do believe this, they're called extremists.
Why should we believe anybody, or you, that you actually -- your oath of office would mean what it says? That you will protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
TULSI: I think with anybody and everyone, it is -- it is -- you know, going back to the old adage, trust but verify. We have to hold people accountable, and that is true of me and of anyone asking for the trust and confidence of the American people. I think part of that is recognizing that as the world changes. As the country changes, there has to be room for people to learn and grow from these changing circumstances.
I think a lot of the problems that we're seeing in a lot of the political divides. And I get it. Trust is earned.
But -- but they're -- in order for there to be progress, we have to allow people to grow and change. Based on the circumstances. You know, we -- we have seen, I think over these last five or six years.
Or especially during the Obama -- I'm sorry. During the Biden administration, we have seen what an increasingly tyrannical government looks like. And we are seeing how our Founding Fathers were so wise in recognizing that our democracy, this form of governance that we have, in this constitutional republic. Through this representative democracy. It's very fragile. And how people in positions of power, are often tempted. And may fall to that temptation. Of abuse of power.
And so we have this system of checks and balances, through three coequal branches of government. We have this system of checks and balances through the Constitution. Our First Amendment and our Second Amendment.
For the power to always favor the voices and the power of the free people and a free society.
I would never have imagined, Glenn, in my lifetime, that we would see such brazen abuse of power.
GLENN: No.
TULSI: And it's not only just a failure to uphold the Constitution. The Democrat elite are actively destroying the Constitution, in broad daylight.
GLENN: Yes.
TULSI: And telling us, no. We don't think the First Amendment is relevant today. Because of misinformation. Disinformation. Hate speech. All of the excuses that they give.
Which are very dangerous. They tell us that, no. The Second Amendment shouldn't apply. And they cite all these different statistics of tragedies that occur in our country.
But ultimately, taking guns away from law-abiding Americans, would not actually prevent those types of tragedies from occurring.
GLENN: Make it more dangerous.
TULSI: It would make it more dangerous. And it's denied the reality that we have faced I think throughout the history of humanity.
If you have a person who seeks to do harm to others, they will find a way to do so.
Unfortunately.
GLENN: Tulsi.
TULSI: Go ahead.
GLENN: No. You finish your thought please. I don't want to interrupt you.
TULSI: They will find a way to do so. It's incumbent upon us, again, to understand and recognize the seriousness of this moment. And the fact that they are doing all these things because they're afraid of the power of the free people. But we're only powerful if we hold on to that power.
GLENN: I want to ask you one more question. I know we're out of time, for your schedule.
Can I -- sixty seconds more, and then I'll ask you just one more question, if you have time.
Okay. Good. Back with Tulsi Gabbard here just a second.
Tulsi, when you're in town, I would love to do another podcast with you. I find you fascinating. And I actually think you could be a huge help to bringing our country back together. But time is so short here.
I wanted to ask you, you know, one of the things that if I were President Trump, I would actually consider you as a vice presidential candidate to unite the country, you know, after much discussion. But the one thing I would feel comfortable appointing you to, is Secretary of Defense.
Our military is a mess. And it's because we have all of these woke generals and all of these political appointments. They've all risen to the top. The problem is, it doesn't appear to me, below the -- the general and all of their, you know, apparatus around them.
If you were Secretary of Defense, could you clean this up?
Is it fixable?
TULSI: Yes. Yes. Unequivocally, yes.
GLENN: How?
TULSI: And your diagnosis is correct.
You know, it's not by accident that the kinds of general officers that are rising through the ranks are those who are advocating for these so-called woke CIAs, whatever -- whatever policies. The reason why they've gotten there is because of their civilian leadership. Picking and choosing people, who -- who will not -- I mean, obviously, we have a civilian-led military. Those in uniform will follow the policies that are set by civilian leaders. But these civilian leaders, Secretary Austin, and the different secretaries of each branch of the military.
They are promoting careerists, who have played it safe. Who have done whatever they needed to do, to go along and get along. To rise through the ranks. And have not been in those positions. And have intentionally so. Not been in those combat hardened positions. Where they have to make really tough choices. That may come with some backlash. But that is the definition of leadership.
And I can tell you, I know personally, a number of officers, in different branches of the military, who have been shoved out. And forced to retire, because they happen to be white males. And these are people who over the last 25 years, have deployed every single year in the most harsh combat environments. And made those tough calls between life and death.
There have been investigations because of it. But these are the people that have the kind of experience that will never be replaced. And they are getting shoved out. And they're not getting promoted. Because of this civilian leadership. At the very top of the Department of Defense.
So, yes. As a Secretary of Defense, I would 100 percent, be able to right the course. Fix what has become so broken, within our Department of Defense. And it starts with putting the right leaders, in the right places. To put our country first.
And to really care more about our troops. Than they care about how many stars they wear on their shoulders. I obviously have very strong feelings about this. Because I still serve.
And I know the mentality impact that this is having on our military. Our morale and their readiness to be able to do their job.
GLENN: Tulsi, next time you're in Dallas, please let me know. I would love to talk more about especially the military and where we're at. Thank you so much. God bless.
TULSI: I look forward to it, Glenn.
GLENN: You bet. Buh-bye.