Tulsi Gabbard rips Trump's Syria decision: 'Kurds are now paying the price'

Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Tulsi GabbardTulsi Gabbard New co-chairs named for congressional caucus for millennials Tulsi Gabbard blasts new House rules on gender neutral language as 'height of hypocrisy' A vaccine, a Burrito and more: 7 lighter, memorable moments from 2020 MORE (D-Hawaii) on Friday ripped President TrumpDonald Trump Biden administration still seizing land near border despite plans to stop building wall: report Illinois House passes bill that would mandate Asian-American history lessons in schools Overnight Defense: Administration says 'low to moderate confidence' Russia behind Afghanistan troop bounties | 'Low to medium risk' of Russia invading Ukraine in next few weeks | Intelligence leaders face sharp questions during House worldwide threats he MORE over his decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria and turn operations over to Turkey.

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, told Hill.TV said that even though she supported Trump’s initial decision in December 2018 to move troops from the region, she said he has failed to do so in a responsible way.

“All that he has done is remove them from the northern border of Syria — really laying out a red-carpet, a green light for [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and Turkey to launch an ethnic cleansing and offensive against the Kurds,” Gabbard told Hill.TV.

“Because of Trump’s failure to end the regime change war in Syria — the Kurds are now paying the price,” she added.

The Hawaii Democrat previously criticized Trump and other Republicans over the move in a series on tweets on Tuesday.

“The hypocrisy of war-mongers like Nikki HaleyNikki Haley The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Tax March - Biden, lawmakers start down a road with infrastructure Nikki Haley says if Trump runs for president in 2024 then she won't Democrat: 'Registration, engagement' are keys to toppling Sen. Tim Scott in South Carolina MORE, Senator Graham & others who have demanded that we continue our regime change war in Syria, who are now crying crocodile tears for the Kurds, is nauseating,” she tweeted.

Gabbard's latest comments came after Turkey this week launched a military offensive against U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces in northern Syria following a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have long been U.S. allies in the fight against the Islamic State, or ISIS, and Trump's move to relocate U.S. troops in advance of Turkey's attack prompted lawmakers in both parties to accuse Trump of betraying American allies.

Several of the Trump’s most vocal allies, including Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), pushed back against the pullout, saying it could be the “biggest mistake” of Trump’s presidency.

But Trump stood by his decision to move the troops, arguing that the U.S. could “take a victory.”

"We don't have any soldiers there because we left, we won, we left, take a victory United States," Trump said at a campaign rally on Thursday. "Bring our troops back home."

Since launching her presidential bid, Gabbard has faced renewed scrutiny on her own relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In 2017, the Hawaii congressman faced backlash after revealing that she met with the Syrian leader, who has also been accused of human rights abuses against his own people.

In response to criticism from her opponents, including Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Harris The Hill's 12:30 Report: Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal after pushback Scalise carries a milk carton saying Harris is 'missing' at the border Harris to visit Mexico and Guatemala 'soon' MORE (D-Calif.), Gabbard has since sought to distance herself from Assad, describing him as a “brutal dictator.”