Donald Trump continued his unorthodox presidential transition on Monday by meeting with Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic congresswoman and prominent supporter of Bernie Sanders. The meeting at Trump Tower in New York was part of a series of talks with figures from across the political spectrum, including former rivals Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz.
Gabbard, a Hawaii representative and the first Hindu member of Congress, resigned from the Democratic National Committee to back Sanders. She formally nominated him at the party convention in July, praising his 'movement of love and compassion'. However, her views on immigration and foreign policy may align with Trump's. She has criticised Barack Obama, condemned interventionist wars, and called for tighter visa restrictions on countries with 'Islamic extremist' populations.
In 2014, Gabbard advocated rolling back the visa waiver programme for Britain and other European nations. She also tweeted in October that Obama should bomb Al-Qaeda in Syria, as Russia's Vladimir Putin did. She was among 47 Democrats who voted for stricter screening of refugees from Iraq and Syria.
Media reports suggest Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon admires Gabbard. Last week, she was one of the few Democrats who did not sign a letter condemning Bannon's appointment for encouraging white nationalism. Trump's transition team has characterised him as a deal maker seeking diverse talent, though his three appointments so far—Jeff Sessions, Mike Pompeo and Michael Flynn—are loyalists.
