Democratic U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday called President Donald Trump "Saudi Arabia's bitch" in a now-viral tweet that followed Trump's controversial announcement that America will stand behind the Middle Eastern nation in the wake of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi's murder in the Saudi consulate in Turkey last month.
"Hey @realdonaldtrump: being Saudi Arabia's bitch is not 'America First,'" Gabbard of Hawaii tweeted.
Gabbard's "America First" reference presumably is tied to Trump's statement Tuesday on standing with the Saudis that included an "America First!" subheading.
Trump chalked up his support for the Saudis to the prospect of losing billions of dollars and his doubt as to whether or not Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the Khashoggi killing: "Maybe he did and maybe he didn't!"
Citing anonymous sources, CNN said the CIA concluded it's likely that the crown prince ordered Khashoggi’s murder.
Trump added in his statement that the Saudis "agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries — and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!"
But Gabbard — a National Guard veteran who did two tours in the Middle East, CBS News said — appears to hold a different perspective. Last week, she called for an end in U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia's intervention in the war in Yemen, the network added.
"It is long overdue that we end U.S. complicity in Saudi Arabia's atrocities," Gabbard said, according to CBS News. "We must end all U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen now."
More from the network:
Gabbard, an outspoken progressive and supporter of Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Democratic primary, is considered to be a potential presidential candidate in 2020. She has been widely criticized for her views on Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, with some considering her an apologist for him. She met with Assad last year.
GOP Sen. Rand Paul, a Trump supporter, tweeted, "I'm pretty sure this statement is Saudi Arabia First, not America First," CBS News said.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) tweeted Tuesday night, "I never thought I'd see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia," NBC News reported.
