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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ratcheted up her criticism of President Donald Trump’s steadfast support of Saudi Arabia’s leadership on Wednesday, tweeting to the president that “Being Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’” Read more

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ratcheted up her criticism of President Donald Trump’s steadfast support of Saudi Arabia’s leadership on Wednesday, tweeting to the president that “Being Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’”

The scathing tweet followed Trump’s reiteration of support for Saudi Arabia this week despite reports the CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Gabbard’s tweet, which grabbed national headlines, was certainly a departure in tone for the Hawaii congresswoman, who often emphasizes the need for more civility in politics, but it was also in keeping with her longstanding criticism of Saudi Arabia and U.S. support for Saudi intervention in Yemen’s civil war, which has devolved into a severe humanitarian crisis.

Hey @realdonaldtrump: being Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not “America First.” — Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) November 21, 2018

Trump has been under political pressure to sanction or otherwise punish Saudi Arabia in response to Khashoggi’s murder. But on Tuesday, the president said he had no intention of doing so, citing U.S. financial interests.

In a statement released Tuesday, Trump said the “crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one,” but noted that last year Saudi Arabia agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the U.S., one-fourth of which is expected to be spent on the purchase of military equipment from major defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and others.

National news outlets have reported the value of the deal has been greatly inflated by Trump and it’s not clear how much the Saudi government intends to spend on arms.

“If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries — and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business,” wrote Trump.

The president reiterated that stance in speaking with reporters outside the White House on Tuesday.

“If we abandon Saudi Arabia, it would be a terrible mistake,” he said. “We’re with Saudi Arabia. We’re staying with Saudi Arabia.”

In addition to Saudi investments, Trump said that damaging ties with the country could result in higher oil prices.

“It’s a very simple equation for me,” he said. “I’m about making America great again and I’m about America first.”

While the U.S. hasn’t directly intervened in the conflict in Yemen, it’s provided intelligence, military counsel and logistical support to the Saudis, who have led a coalition in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government against Houthi rebels.

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The war has displaced a majority of the country’s population, according to United Nations’ officials, and an international charity on Wednesday estimated as many as 85,000 children under the age of 5 have starved to death since Saudi Arabia intervened with an air war three years ago. The conflict has, in part, become a proxy war between Iran, which is supporting the rebels, and Saudi Arabia.

Gabbard has urged the U.S. to stop its support of Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the conflict. Last year, she condemned Trump’s arm deal, saying it will enable Saudi Arabia to use U.S.-made weapons in Yemen and continue its record of human rights atrocities.

Last month, she also criticized Trump’s argument that if the U.S. doesn’t sell arms to Saudi Arabia then another country will seize the opportunity.

“Trump embodies capitalism without a conscience. Devastating for our country and the world,” she wrote on Twitter.