Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (Hawaii) on Sunday dismissed reports that her Democratic presidential campaign is being helped by defenders of Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinNavalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Ex-Trump national security adviser says US leaders 'making it easy for Putin' to meddle The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting MORE as "fake news," but said conflict with Moscow is counterproductive.

Speaking to George Stephanopoulos George Robert StephanopoulosColbert implores Pelosi to update 'weaponry' in SCOTUS fight: 'Trump has a literal heat ray' Murkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Cruz says Senate Republicans likely have votes to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee MORE on ABC's "This Week," Gabbard said escalating tensions with nuclear-armed nations like Russia and China "has brought us to a very dangerous point."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: "As president, I will end these counterproductive and wasteful regime change wars, work to end this new Cold War and nuclear arms race … and invest those resources on serving the needs of the American people" https://t.co/0ZyfCPNJz7 pic.twitter.com/w9tFTeATDc — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 19, 2019

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Stephanopoulos asked Gabbard about a Daily Beast story listing the support her campaign has received from Russophiles. He also noted her meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her defense of Russian military operations in Syria and her statements that Russian election interference is no worse than what America has historically undertaken.

"Is Putin a threat to national security?" he asked.

"You now it's unfortunately you're citing that article, George, because it's a whole lot of fake news. What I'm focused on is what's in the best interest of the American people? What's in the best interest of national security? Keeping American people safe," Gabbard said. "And what I'm pointing out consistently, time and time again, is our continued wasteful regime change wars have been counterproductive to the interests of the American people and the approach this administration has taken in essentially choosing conflict ... has been counterproductive to national security."