Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who is running for president in 2020, said Sunday that she does not regret meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017.

Gabbard told CNN's "State of the Union" that it's important "to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries."

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"It continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential adversaries, if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country," she said.

Rep. @TulsiGabbard says she has no regrets about meeting with Syrian dictator Assad in 2017: “It continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries...if we are serious about the pursuit of peace" pic.twitter.com/DqKKdvFO40 — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 20, 2019

She added that the "only alternative" to meeting with dictators like Assad is "more war."

"It's why I have urged and continue to urge President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE to meet with people like Kim Jong-un in North Korea, because we understand what's at stake here. And the only alternative to having these kinds of conversations is more war. It's more suffering. It's more lives lost, more destruction," Gabbard said.

Gabbard, who earlier this month announced she would seek the presidency in 2020, has come under fire for the meeting with Assad, which she has described as a "fact-finding" mission.