Sen. Kamala Harris came after Rep. Tulsi Gabbard during Wednesday’s Democratic primary debate, accusing her of buddying up to Republicans, including President Trump and his former adviser Steve Bannon.
The spat began when the congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard, was asked about the “rot” she has said Hillary Clinton brought upon the Democratic party.
Gabbard, 38, said the party is not “by and for the people” and “continues to be influenced by the foreign policy establishment represented by Hillary Clinton and others.”
California lawmaker Harris, 55, was asked to respond. And she was ready.
The former California attorney general blasted Gabbard as someone who spent four years trashing the Obama administration on Fox News.
She said Gabbard had “buddied up to Steve Bannon” to snag a meeting with Trump after the 2016 election.
“I think it’s unfortunate that we have someone on the stage, who is attempting to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States who during the Obama administration spent four years full time on Fox News criticizing President Obama,” Harris attacked.
“When Donald Trump was elected, not even sworn in, running up to Steve Bannon to get a meeting with Donald Trump in the Trump Tower.”
Harris also said the congresswoman had cozied up to a war criminal, apparently in reference to her meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a 2017 trip to war-torn Syria.
Gabbard accused Harris of trafficking in “lies and smears and innuendoes” because she couldn’t argue with the substance of her criticism of the Democratic party.
“What Sen. Harris is doing, unfortunately, is continuing to traffic in lies and smear and innuendoes because she cannot challenge the substance of the argument that I’m making – the leadership and change I’m seeking to bring in our foreign policy,” Gabbard responded.
“Which only makes me guess that she will, as President, continue the status quo, continue the Bush-Clinton-Trump foreign policy of regime change wars, which is deeply destructive. This is personal to me because I served in Iraq,” the veteran said.
The Trump campaign seemed to agree with Gabbard’s characterization of the Democrats, sharing a clip of the congresswoman’s critique with the “100%” emoji.
Meanwhile, some Twitter users noted Harris appeared to have a clapback at the ready — suggesting this was the senator’s revenge for digs Gabbard made about her record on criminal justice at the August debate.
“lol Harris gets her revenge on Tulsi after Tulsi tanked her campaign,” tweeted reporter Alex Kotch.
ABC political director Rick Klein added: “Harris is going right after Tulsi – not waiting for Tulsi to hit her tonight.”