Tulsi Gabbard’s transition from Democratic congresswoman to Donald Trump’s debate coach has become one of the more unusual turns in recent U.S. politics. Once a presidential hopeful herself, Gabbard found herself thrust back into the political spotlight—not as a candidate, but as the behind-the-scenes hand guiding Trump’s preparation for his face-off with Vice President Kamala Harris. However, her involvement didn’t shield Trump from criticism after his less-than-stellar debate performance, and her post-debate complaints about media bias didn’t go over as she might have hoped.
Gabbard’s political evolution and role in Trump’s debate preparations were cemented when reports emerged that she had been working with Trump for over a month to get him ready for his encounter with Harris. She gained attention in 2019 for successfully landing a few blows against Harris during a Democratic primary debate, a moment that likely contributed to her being tapped to assist Trump. However, despite Gabbard’s supposed expertise, Trump’s performance failed to impress many conservatives.
The Debate and Gabbard’s Response
Following the debate, Gabbard found herself in the “spin room” defending Trump, but she also went on the offensive, claiming that the moderators at ABC News were shilling for Harris. Gabbard asserted that Trump had faced a “three-on-one” attack, with both Harris and the moderators conspiring to make him look bad. However, this argument didn’t hold much weight when it was revealed that Trump actually spoke for eight minutes longer than Harris during the debate, a detail that undermined Gabbard’s accusations of unfair treatment (New Republic). Her whining about the media favoring Harris did little to shield Trump—or herself—from widespread mockery.
— OttoPilot (@6463dc) September 11, 2024
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The Longer Version
Tulsi Gabbard reacts. pic.twitter.com/5sRxwgtXL2
— Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) September 11, 2024
Critics from both sides were quick to ridicule Gabbard’s role in Trump’s lackluster showing. Online, commentators took jabs at her debate prep, with one user sarcastically congratulating her for a “brilliant” coaching job. Others, like former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor, lambasted Trump for surrounding himself with what he called “idiots” like Gabbard, claiming that their involvement led to Trump being baited into rants that did him no favors with the audience (New Republic).
This debate is three vs one — the ABC moderators clearly shilling for Kamala Harris. https://t.co/DbpaSLIUi0
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) September 11, 2024
Even among conservative pundits, there was little sympathy for Trump’s poor performance or for Gabbard’s complaints about media bias. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, known for his sharp debate skills, bluntly stated that whoever had prepared Trump should be fired. Fox News’ Brit Hume also weighed in, noting that Trump had a bad night and criticizing his tendency to dredge up grievances that don’t resonate with voters (The New Republic).
This is what Tulsi Gabbard said to Fox News before the debate yesterday:
Kamala Harris is being trained like an actress—lights, cameras, memorized lines—so she can “win” the debate and act her way through this election. But we’re not choosing the lead in a movie; we’re choosing our Commander-in-Chief. As citizens and voters, we need to recognize our… pic.twitter.com/MQ4QHnv0w4
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) September 10, 2024
Newsweek sums it up for us:
Attached to Gabbard’s Tuesday post was a clip from a recent interview with Fox News, in which she warned that the vice president “is not to be underestimated,” and claimed that Harris was taking “extreme acting lessons” in preparation for Tuesday night.
“She’s locked herself in a hotel room, taking extreme acting lessons,” Gabbard told her interviewer, Jesse Watters. “She’s got Hollywood advisers, a stage, the Hollywood lights, in the hopes that her friends at ABC and the propaganda media will declare her the winner.”
Backlash and Political Impact
Despite her efforts to portray Trump as a victim of media bias, Gabbard’s defense backfired spectacularly. Rather than rallying support for Trump, her remarks only seemed to amplify the sense that his performance was a disaster. Gabbard’s complaints echoed Trump’s own long-standing grievances about media coverage, but they did little to shift the narrative. The former president’s supporters had hoped for a commanding performance from Trump, especially with Gabbard’s involvement, but they were left disappointed.
I hear after last night that Tulsi is giving a buy one get one free debate prep session! 💙💙💙
— Robert Hardy Jr (@robhardyjr) September 11, 2024
Yes AGREED. Thank You Rep. Gabbard.
Well done. (Snickering)— It’s Me (@csmoorex) September 11, 2024
Eating pets. That’s crazy. This says that’s not happening in Springfield https://t.co/VGX65GOogQ
— Bob Starr (@Bobisheretohelp) September 11, 2024
This isn’t the first time that Gabbard has faced backlash for her alignment with Trump. Her political shift to the right, particularly her endorsement of Trump’s policies and her appearances on right-wing media, have alienated many of her former Democratic allies. Once seen as a rising star in progressive circles, Gabbard has now become a lightning rod for criticism from both the left and the right.
Even her supporters in Trump’s camp might be reconsidering her role. The post-debate narrative was clear: Trump had not done enough to capitalize on his opportunity to attack Harris effectively, and Gabbard’s coaching was seen as part of the problem. The Trump team’s strategy, which included Gabbard and others, came under fire for not adequately preparing Trump for the intricacies of debating a skilled prosecutor like Harris.
How It Ended
In the aftermath of the Trump-Harris debate, Tulsi Gabbard’s role as Trump’s debate coach was met with a wave of criticism from all sides. Her attempts to blame the media for Trump’s poor performance did little to shift attention away from the fact that Trump had failed to land any significant blows against Harris. Gabbard’s complaints about “shilling” for Harris not only rang hollow but also drew attention to the fact that Trump, despite being given ample time to speak, couldn’t turn the debate in his favor. For now, it seems Gabbard’s time as Trump’s debate prep guru may be short-lived.
Regardless of what people may think about Tulsi Gabbard’s political shifts, it’s essential to remember that she is a patriot who served her country honorably. Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and served for more than 16 years, reaching the rank of Major. She was deployed twice to the Middle East, including a tour in Iraq, where she served in a field medical unit. Her military service, alongside others like J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, who also wore the uniform, is a testament to her commitment to the country. These individuals, regardless of their political paths, deserve our gratitude for their service and sacrifices.
Featured image via gage skidmore + AI
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