WASHINGTON _ Rep. Tulsi Gabbard discussed Syria, the Islamic State and al-Qaida during a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, the Hawaii Democrat said in a statement that did not specify whether she's being considered for a post in the incoming administration.
The sophomore congresswoman is the first Democratic lawmaker to visit the president-elect at Trump Tower in New York, where he's been holding meetings with potential Cabinet and administrative appointees, as well as people who have ideas he wants to hear.
"President-elect Trump asked me to meet with him about our current policies regarding Syria, our fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaida and ISIS, as well as other foreign policy challenges we face," Gabbard said in her statement.
"I felt it important to take the opportunity to meet with the president-elect now before the drumbeats of war that neocons have been beating drag us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government _ a war which has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions of refugees to flee their homes in search of safety for themselves and their families," she added.
Gabbard served as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee until the end of January, when she stepped down from the post to support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign. At the time, she dished out heavy criticism of Hillary Clinton and her tenure as secretary of state.
"With Hillary," she told CNN, "we've seen not only was she a champion for the Iraq war, she was the architect for the war in Libya to overthrow Gadhafi, which we've seen has resulted in tremendous loss of life and chaos, and now, with ISIS and al-Qaida having a stronghold in that country."
"Now, she continues to push for the same kind of regime change in Syria with an escalation by putting a so-called no-fly zone in place that puts us directly at odds with Russia," Gabbard said.
The conversation with Trump about foreign policy was "frank and positive," Gabbard said, noting she discussed her opposition to a no-fly zone and legislation she has authored to de-escalate American military involvement there.
Gabbard, 35, said she would "not hesitate" to express areas of disagreement with Trump but that those divisions, however strong, should not prevent them from working together on issues where they do agree.
The congresswoman's 440-word statement read in one breath like she did not want a job in Trump's administration but in the next sentence like she would be open to an appointment.
"Serving the people of Hawaii and our nation is an honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly," she said. "Representing the aloha spirit and diversity of the people of Hawaii, I will continue to seek common ground to deliver results that best serve all Americans, as I have tried to do during my time in Congress."
