Bernie Sanders distances himself from past praise of Tulsi Gabbard: ‘That was way back’

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. Bernie Sanders appears to be distancing himself from former ally Tulsi Gabbard, brushing off his past admiration for the current Director of National Intelligence during a recent television appearance.

It comes as Gabbard steps into a controversial election-related assignment, and tensions in Washington simmer ahead of the midterms.

Bernie Sanders shrugs off old praise for Gabbard

Sanders faced questions during Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN’s 'The Source', where host Kaitlan Collins raised eyebrows over Gabbard’s new role overseeing election security. The responsibility arrives at a sensitive time, particularly following an FBI raid on an election hub in Fulton County, Georgia, where agents seized records as part of an investigation.

While discussing Gabbard's new gig, Collins reminded Sanders that his current opinion of her appears sharply different from his earlier praise.

“She’s someone that you’ve called before, a courageous leader, a great friend. I don’t know if you would describe her that way,” Collins said while noting that Gabbard’s election security assignment is unusual for her intelligence position.

Sanders quickly waved off his past comments. “That was way back when, that was a few years ago,” Sanders insisted.

Sanders and Gabbard were once closely aligned, particularly on issues such as foreign policy and surveillance reform. But their alliance fractured after Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 and later aligned with Trump’s team.

Now, Sanders is openly suspicious of her current role. He told Collins that Gabbard is being used by the President to 'create a political situation where he won’t lose in one way or another' as the midterms approach. Sanders also warned that Americans are becoming uneasy with what he views as aggressive federal enforcement tactics.

"I’m sorry, I think they understand that more and more Americans, not just progressives, not just moderates, there are conservatives who say, hey, we don’t want to see masked troops, federal agents, in Minneapolis breaking down doors and shooting people. This is not what America is about. And Trump is on the defensive," he said.

Sanders also predicted potential electoral setbacks for Republicans, suggesting Trump is attempting to rig the system to his advantage.

"I think the polling is pretty clear. His numbers are going down. Everything being equal. I think the Democrats are going to regain control over the House, maybe the Senate. And what he is now figuring out is how can he create a political situation where he won’t lose in one way or another. And I think that is scary stuff and we’ve got to fight it every step of the way," Sanders added.

Bernie Sanders once sang a very different tune

It's worth noting that Sanders was once one of Gabbard’s most vocal defenders during her time as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Less than six years ago, the former Hawaii congresswoman had built a reputation within the party as a sharp critic of US military intervention and domestic surveillance programs. Her various stances drew strong support from certain progressive factions.

When Gabbard endorsed Sanders during his 2016 presidential campaign, he responded with glowing praise.

“Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is one of the important voices of a new generation of leaders. As a veteran of the Iraq War, she understands the cost of war and is fighting to create a foreign policy that not only protects America but keeps us out of perpetual wars...,” Sanders said while accepting her endorsement.

In 2019, Sanders went further in her defense and called it 'outrageous' to label her a 'Russian asset.' He gushed, “Tulsi Gabbard has put her life on the line to defend this country. People can disagree on issues, but it is outrageous for anyone to suggest that Tulsi is a foreign asset.”

Last year, however, Sanders voted against Gabbard's confirmation as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the Trump administration.