Tulsi Gabbard says she ‘would be honored’ to be Trump’s running mate

Correction: Tulsi Gabbard was speaking the day before Trump’s conviction. An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of her remarks. 

Tulsi Gabbard said she would be “honored” to be former President Trump’s  running mate, a day before he was convicted on 34 felony charges in his hush money trial. 

“I have dedicated my entire adult life to serving our country and if asked to serve in that way, I’d be honored,” she said at an event Wednesday at the Richard Nixon Library and Museum in California.

The former Hawaii congresswoman, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, was speaking to a crowd of supporters to promote her book, “For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind.”

When Gabbard responded to the question about being Trump’s running mate, the audience erupted in applause and cheers.

Gabbard, who said in 2022 that she could no longer support Democratic ideologies and the party, is one of several lawmakers rumored to be on Trump’s vice presidential shortlist.

In March, she signaled she would be open to running with Trump because she wants to “be in a position to solve problems.”

The former president has yet to confirm who is on his list or make a formal announcement about who will join him on the ticket.

“I can’t not talk about what’s in the news today,” Gabbard said at the event, referring to Trump’s trial as the jury was deliberating. They decided Thursday that he was guilty on all counts.

She argued that the trial is a “perfect example” of “dictator-type action” coming from President Biden.

After the jury convicted Trump on Thursday afternoon, Judge Juan Merchan scheduled the former president’s sentencing hearing for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Committee’s convention.

When speaking about the verdict, Gabbard also criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and Merchan over the case.

“This is not the America that my brothers and sisters who wear the uniform risked our lives to defend,” she said. “People have so completely defied all that we hold dear and so personal to me and to so many others.”

“I don’t want you going home tonight depressed,” Gabbard told the crowd.