Washington (CNN) Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Sunday stood by her decision to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, saying that American leaders must meet with foreign leaders "if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country." Gabbard, who announced earlier this month that she was running for president in 2020, discussed the controversial meeting with Assad during a trip to Syria in January 2017 with CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday. The Syrian leader is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians. "Looking back on that meeting, do you have any regrets?" I have seen this cost of war firsthand, which is why I fight so hard for peace.

Source: CNN January 20, 2019 17:30 UTC