Gabbard: Impeachment Will "Greatly Increased" Likelihood Trump Will Win 2020

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) delivers an end of the year message warning Democrats that impeachment has “greatly increased” the likelihood that President Trump will win a second term.

“In 2020, we will have a new president in the White House. But the real question is how many of you do not want that to be Donald Trump? I definitely don’t,” Gabbard said in a video tweet post. But unfortunately, the House impeachment of the president has greatly increased the likelihood that Donald Trump will remain the president for the next 5 years.”

She added, “We all know that Trump is not going to be found guilty and removed from office by the U.S. Senate. It’s not going to happen. Second, the impeachment, in my view, will actually increase his support among voters and it’s going to make him harder to defeat.”

In 2020, we will have a new president in the White House. How many of you do NOT want that to be Donald Trump? I certainly don't. Unfortunately, the House impeachment of the president has greatly increased the likelihood Trump will remain the president for the next 5 years … pic.twitter.com/FRRlbWHyo7
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) December 31, 2019

In a video tweeted Monday evening, Gabbard explained her position against impeachment, warning that not only will impeachment help Trump get reelected, but will increase the chances of Republicans taking over the House of Representatives.

“Furthermore, the House impeachment has increased the likelihood that Republicans will take over the House of Representatives, so I’m really concerned that because of this House impeachment that we will end up not only with Donald Trump as president from 2020 to 2024, we’ll actually end up with a Republican-controlled Senate and a Republican-controlled House. This is going to be a disaster for our country.”

Gabbard faced criticism by making the surprising move to vote “present” to on both articles of impeachments last month. She was the only Democratic presidential candidate who was eligible to vote on impeachment.

“I am standing in the center and have decided to vote Present. I could not in good conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing,” Gabbard said in a statement issued minutes after her vote. “I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal animosities that have so gravely divided our country.”

This isn’t the first time Gabbard has made these warnings on Trump’s impeachment. She made similar remarks in New Hampshire last weekend, arguing that impeachment will “embolden” Trump and increase his chance for reelection.

“I think impeachment, unfortunately, will only further embolden Donald Trump, increase his support and the likelihood that he’ll have a better shot at getting elected while also seeing the likelihood that the House will lose a lot of seats to Republicans,” Gabbard said.