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Gabbard meets with Trump as he works on building his administration

President-elect Donald Trump met today with Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is reportedly being considered for a job in the Trump administration.

Gabbard released a statement after the meeting saying that she was invited by Trump to the meeting, where she had a “frank and positive” discussion with Trump about Syria, the battle against terrorism and other policy issues.

Gabbard’s statement did not say whether there is any specific job she is seeking in the Trump administration.

Erika Tsuji, a spokeswoman for Gabbard, on Friday denied rumors that Gabbard is being vetted for a Trump administration post, saying that Gabbard “just got re-elected and is focused on serving Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District.”

However, according to a tweet this morning from CNN’s Sara Murray, “a source tells me she’s under consideration for State, Defense & UN Ambassador.”

The New York Times, citing an unidentified senior Trump aide, said Gabbard is being considered for several positions, including ambassador to the United Nations.

Gabbard said in her statement today that “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.

“While the rules of political expediency would say I should have refused to meet with President-elect Trump, I never have and never will play politics with American and Syrian lives.”

McClatchyDC.com reported that Gabbard met with Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence this morning, but Trump spokesman Jason Miller said it was “premature” to discuss Gabbard’s potential role in the Trump administration.

Gabbard was a strong supporter of Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary, but eventually shifted her support to Clinton after the primary.

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