Tulsi Gabbard inspires Trump VP rumors after strong CPAC speech

Her comments come just days after the former president confirmed that the Democrat defector was on his list of potential VPs.

"I've met a lot of strong tough people in my life," Gabbard told the crowd in Washington, DC. "I can't think of a single one who could not only withstand all that is coming at Donald Trump without crumbling, but someone who would actually choose to keep fighting against the entire Washington establishment."

She went on to contrast the former president to his successor, who she "used to consider ... a friend."

"Do you think he could handle this pressure?" she asked. "I don't think so. I think even the fracture of the pressure and stress and attacks Trump has endured would cause him to crumble."

Gabbard took aim at Trump's biggest rival, Nikki Haley, whose mere mention drew boos from the crowd.

"She claims that President Trump is only in it for himself, and that he's doing all that he's doing only for himself," Gabbard said. "If that were the case, wouldn't he just walk away from all this; walk away from the headaches, and the stress, and the attacks he's enduring right now?"

I've gotten a sense for what motivates him," she continued, "and it's got nothing to do with what the Washington establishment is accusign him of. This is a man who's a fighter; his strength and resilience can only come from one place ... and that's a sincere love and concern for the future of our country and his care for the American people."

Gabbard's praise for the former president was applauded by attendees, and gave credence to the belief that she was gunning for the second highest office in the nation.

She has long been considered a potential VP by many both in and outside the conservative movement, and that speculation only grew following her speech.

New York Magazine's Ed Kilgore, for example, penned an entire article about the possibility, pointing out that the former president's team is "interested in broadening his coalition by choosing a veep who is a woman, a person of color, or someone well outside the political Establishment," qualifications Gabbard meets.

During a Fox News town hall on Tuesday, Laura Ingraham read off a list of possible VPs, and Gabbard's name received the loudest applause from the crowd. Also named were Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and Florida Republican Byron Donalds.

"Honestly, all of those people are good," Trump said. "They're all good, they're all solid, and I always say, I want people with common sense because there's so many things happening in this country that don't make sense."