News Opinons Politics

Tulsi Gabbard: Saudi Promotion of ‘Extremist Wahhabi Ideology’ a Bigger Threat to U.S. Than Iran


Wednesday on Fox News Channel’s “Your World,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a candidate for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination criticized President Donald Trump’s response to an attack on an oil production facility in Saudi Arabia.

Gabbard went on to argue Saudi Arabia’s promotion of extremist Wahhabi ideology was a bigger threat to the United States than Iran.

Partial transcript as follows:


CAVUTO: All right, so the interpretation I have is that you want to bring back that Iran deal, get — move back to that.

But it does give a signal here that you’re no fan of the Saudi leadership — and many are not, I get that — but more of a fan of the leadership in Iran.


Illinois Republican lawmaker warned of board that released alleged killer of Chicago boy: ‘Sick to my stomach’
Ukraine aid surpasses $113 billion; Pentagon seeks another $10 billion to replace depleted stockpiles
Hunter Biden Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Suing Liberal Fox News Host – ‘Lies Have Consequences’
South Carolina congressional map can stay for this year’s elections, panel rules
Biden and Trump Visit New York at Same Time – One Mingles with Elites at Ritzy Fundraiser, the Other Honors a Fallen Police Officer
Judge Tears Into Sam Bankman-Fried, Hits Him with Massive Prison Sentence
Fani Willis Throws a Tantrum to Jim Jordan as Contempt Deadline Arrives
Comer invites Biden to testify publicly as part of House impeachment inquiry
Body scanners coming to NYC subway stations as city struggles to get a grip on surging crime
US pastors see popular Easter services as opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance
Most Americans support House plan to ban TikTok if it isn’t sold, poll finds
Former top ICE official sides with Texas Gov. Abbott over Biden in ongoing border battle
WaPo Tries Pitting Donald Against Melania, Completely Misses One Huge Problem
Illegal Immigrant Who Was Deported Under Trump Arrested in Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman
Investigators: 764 Tons of Hazardous Material Involved in Baltimore Bridge Disaster, Some Has Spilled Into Water

GABBARD: No, I’m a fan of the United States of America. I’m a fan of the American people.

And as president and commander in chief, I would put their interests above all else, putting the wellbeing of the American people —

CAVUTO: Is it in our interests for Saudi Arabia — is it in our interests for Saudi Arabia to be protected or its kingdom to be protected? Or do you draw a distinction?

GABBARD: Well, let me tell you what is not in our interest, is this alliance that has been longstanding between the United States and Saudi Arabia, in spite of the fact that they are directly and indirectly supporting Al Qaeda, the terrorist group that attacked us on 9/11.

We just observed the 18th anniversary of that terrible attack on our country in 2001. They are continuing to spend billions of dollars every year propagating this extremist Wahhabi ideology that’s fueling the growth of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS and others around the world.


Illinois Republican lawmaker warned of board that released alleged killer of Chicago boy: ‘Sick to my stomach’
Ukraine aid surpasses $113 billion; Pentagon seeks another $10 billion to replace depleted stockpiles
Hunter Biden Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Suing Liberal Fox News Host – ‘Lies Have Consequences’
South Carolina congressional map can stay for this year’s elections, panel rules
Biden and Trump Visit New York at Same Time – One Mingles with Elites at Ritzy Fundraiser, the Other Honors a Fallen Police Officer
Judge Tears Into Sam Bankman-Fried, Hits Him with Massive Prison Sentence
Fani Willis Throws a Tantrum to Jim Jordan as Contempt Deadline Arrives
Comer invites Biden to testify publicly as part of House impeachment inquiry
Body scanners coming to NYC subway stations as city struggles to get a grip on surging crime
US pastors see popular Easter services as opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance
Most Americans support House plan to ban TikTok if it isn’t sold, poll finds
Former top ICE official sides with Texas Gov. Abbott over Biden in ongoing border battle
WaPo Tries Pitting Donald Against Melania, Completely Misses One Huge Problem
Illegal Immigrant Who Was Deported Under Trump Arrested in Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman
Investigators: 764 Tons of Hazardous Material Involved in Baltimore Bridge Disaster, Some Has Spilled Into Water

They are directly supporting those who pose a threat to our country and the United States, that threat that we need to defeat.

CAVUTO: Is that threat greater than Iran?

GABBARD: Yes, it is. Currently, Iran doesn’t — currently, Iran doesn’t pose a direct threat to the United States.

CAVUTO: So Saudi Arabia is more of a problem for us than Iran is?

GABBARD: We have the opportunity to make sure that we prevent Iran from continuing to move forward towards developing a nuclear weapon.

That’s where we need to be focused. If I were president right now, that’s exactly what I’d be doing, getting back into that nuclear deal, getting rid of these crippling economic sanctions, and being able to make sure we can move forward in the interest of our national security.

CAVUTO: So a President Tulsi Gabbard would see Saudi Arabia as a bigger threat to our country than Iran?

GABBARD: What I would like to see is Saudi Arabia ending their support for Al Qaeda, terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, who pose a threat to the American people.


Illinois Republican lawmaker warned of board that released alleged killer of Chicago boy: ‘Sick to my stomach’
Ukraine aid surpasses $113 billion; Pentagon seeks another $10 billion to replace depleted stockpiles
Hunter Biden Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Suing Liberal Fox News Host – ‘Lies Have Consequences’
South Carolina congressional map can stay for this year’s elections, panel rules
Biden and Trump Visit New York at Same Time – One Mingles with Elites at Ritzy Fundraiser, the Other Honors a Fallen Police Officer
Judge Tears Into Sam Bankman-Fried, Hits Him with Massive Prison Sentence
Fani Willis Throws a Tantrum to Jim Jordan as Contempt Deadline Arrives
Comer invites Biden to testify publicly as part of House impeachment inquiry
Body scanners coming to NYC subway stations as city struggles to get a grip on surging crime
US pastors see popular Easter services as opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance
Most Americans support House plan to ban TikTok if it isn’t sold, poll finds
Former top ICE official sides with Texas Gov. Abbott over Biden in ongoing border battle
WaPo Tries Pitting Donald Against Melania, Completely Misses One Huge Problem
Illegal Immigrant Who Was Deported Under Trump Arrested in Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman
Investigators: 764 Tons of Hazardous Material Involved in Baltimore Bridge Disaster, Some Has Spilled Into Water

CAVUTO: I’m sorry. That’s not what I asked. That’s not what I asked.

Be — things as they are now —

(CROSSTALK)

GABBARD: I know. You’re turning my words around. You’re turning my words around.

CAVUTO: No, no, no, no.

I want — I want to just be very clear that — but you — you have a higher opinion of Iran than you do Saudi Arabia, as things stand now?

GABBARD: No. No, that’s not at all what I’m saying.

CAVUTO: Then explain.

GABBARD: That’s not what I’m saying.

I’m focused on how we can best keep the American people safe, on how we can make sure that we are — we have our national security intact.

And so whatever actions that we take —


Illinois Republican lawmaker warned of board that released alleged killer of Chicago boy: ‘Sick to my stomach’
Ukraine aid surpasses $113 billion; Pentagon seeks another $10 billion to replace depleted stockpiles
Hunter Biden Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Suing Liberal Fox News Host – ‘Lies Have Consequences’
South Carolina congressional map can stay for this year’s elections, panel rules
Biden and Trump Visit New York at Same Time – One Mingles with Elites at Ritzy Fundraiser, the Other Honors a Fallen Police Officer
Judge Tears Into Sam Bankman-Fried, Hits Him with Massive Prison Sentence
Fani Willis Throws a Tantrum to Jim Jordan as Contempt Deadline Arrives
Comer invites Biden to testify publicly as part of House impeachment inquiry
Body scanners coming to NYC subway stations as city struggles to get a grip on surging crime
US pastors see popular Easter services as opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance
Most Americans support House plan to ban TikTok if it isn’t sold, poll finds
Former top ICE official sides with Texas Gov. Abbott over Biden in ongoing border battle
WaPo Tries Pitting Donald Against Melania, Completely Misses One Huge Problem
Illegal Immigrant Who Was Deported Under Trump Arrested in Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman
Investigators: 764 Tons of Hazardous Material Involved in Baltimore Bridge Disaster, Some Has Spilled Into Water

CAVUTO: And the Saudis are a bigger threat? And the Saudis are a bigger threat to that safety than Iran? I just want to be clear, Congresswoman.

GABBARD: The Saudis are directly supporting the very terrorist group that attacked us on 9/11 and that continue to pose a threat to the American people today.

CAVUTO: So if the president were to take action against Iran — with or without Saudi intelligence or help — that would be a bad move, in your eyes?

GABBARD: That would be a very bad move. It wouldn’t serve the interests of the United States. It would cost thousands more of my brothers and sisters in uniform their lives. It would cost us, as taxpayers, trillions of dollars more.

It would make the Iraq War that I served in look like a picnic, compared to the cost and the consequence and the devastation that would come about as a result of that war, what — to speak of the fact that it would be unconstitutional, given the president would do that without that authority coming from Congress.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter

→ What are your thoughts? ←
Scroll down to leave a comment: