Tulsi Gabbard has announced she won't be seeking re-election to Congress in 2020 as she focuses her efforts on becoming the next President of the United States.
The Democratic hopeful - who is currently polling at around 1% - revealed the news on Thursday night, shortly before an appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News program.
The combat vet, 38, was elected as the Representative for Hawaii's 2nd District back in 2012, but said in a recorded video that she is now seeking to work for all Americans, and not just those from her island state.
'Washington, our country, and the world is in dire need of aloha,' she stated.
'Only aloha has the power to heal the divisive wounds in our nation... As President, I will lead with aloha — putting people ahead of profits, putting people ahead of politics, putting the well being of our people and our planet above all else.'
Following her announcement, many on Twitter wondered whether her decision not to seek re-election could mean that she would run as a third party candidate.
Tulsi Gabbard announced Thursday that she won't be seeking re-election to Congress in 2020, fueling speculation she may run as a third party candidate
Gabbard has previously sparked speculation she may break with the Democrats, as she often refuses to toe the line on party talking points.
And the politician was true to form just hours later, criticizing the Democrat's impeachment inquiry in an appearance on Fox News program, Hannity.
While Gabbard initially supported the inquiry, she told Sean Hannity: 'I have long expressed my concern about going through impeachment proceedings in a partisan way because it was only further tear apart an already very divided country'.
'There were areas of concern raised around conversations that happened between Trump and the Ukrainian president, which is why I supported the inquiry. I think that inquiry needs to be done in a very narrowly focused way and it must be done transparently. '
Also on Thursday, Gabbard criticized the Democrat's impeachment inquiry in an appearance on Fox News program, Hannity
She continued: '[But] I don't know what's going on behind closed. We as members of Congress don't have access to the information that's being shared, and I think the American people deserve to know what the facts are and what the evidence is that's being presented as this inquiry goes on.'
Later in the interview, Gabbard attempted to find mutual ground with staunch conservative Hannity in their shared disdain of Hillary Clinton's policies.
'You and I disagree on a lot of things, but you and I agree on one very important point and that is that the American people have had enough of Hillary Clinton and her warmongering policies,' she stated.
'I want to send a message straight to your viewers - join me, support me, vote for me, contribute to my campaign to finally bring about an end to Hillary Clinton's warmongering foreign policy and the influence that she's had for so long on the Democratic Party and the Democratic candidates running for president.'
Gabbard has increased her attacks on Clinton in the past week, after the failed 2016 candidate alluded that Gabbard was Russia's puppet, being groomed as an asset for them in the upcoming 2020 election.
She also suggested Republicans are keeping an eye on Gabbard and 'are grooming her to be the third-party candidate'.
Meanwhile, Gabbard attempted to find mutual ground with staunch conservative Hannity in their shared disdain of Hillary Clinton's policies
Gabbard's attacks come after Clinton implied Gabbard was being used by Russia while speaking on a podcast with former Barack Obama aide David Plouffe on Friday
Gabbard (far left) has frequently broken with her fellow Democratic nominees (pictured) - sparking speculation she will run as a third party candidate
Last Friday, Clinton implied Gabbard's ties to Russia while speaking on a podcast with former Barack Obama aide David Plouffe.
'I'm not making any predictions, but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate. She's the favorite of the Russians,' she said, not naming Gabbard directly.
On Sunday Gabbard released a furious campaign video in which she suggested that Clinton has been after her since 2016, when she left her position in the Democratic National Committee and endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president.
In that clip she said she would not be bullied by Clinton and 'her gang of rich, powerful elite.'
'If they can falsely portray me as a traitor, then they can do it to anyone - and in fact, that's exactly the message they want to get across to you,' Gabbard said.
'If you stand up to Hillary and the party power brokers - if you stand up to the rich and powerful elite and the war machine, they will destroy you and discredit your message. But, here is the truth: They will not intimidate us. They will not silence us.'
On Monday Gabbard said she's open to confronting Clinton face to face.
Last Friday, Gabbard unleashed a spray at Clinton following her comments about the fact she could be duped into being a Russian pawn.
Gabbard fired off three tweets in a row where she accused Clinton of being behind a secret effort to destroy her reputation.
'Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton. You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain,' Gabbard wrote.
'From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation. We wondered who was behind it and why. Now we know — it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. It's now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don't cowardly hide behind your proxies. Join the race directly,' she added.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Cory Booker, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, entrepreneur Andrew Yang and spiritual author Marianne Williamson all condemned Clinton's suggestion that Gabbard was a Russian pawn.
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