In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has enlisted the help of Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic Hawaii representative, to assist him in his preparations for the upcoming presidential debate against Kamala Harris. This decision comes amidst speculation that Trump is taking the September 10th clash with greater seriousness than initially anticipated, despite his team's previous denials.

Reported first by the New York Times, Gabbard's selection as a stand-in for the vice president during rehearsals hints at Trump's intention to thoroughly prepare for the debate. It is worth noting that Gabbard had previously been considered as a potential running mate for Trump. However, her popularity within her party waned after Hillary Clinton labeled her a "Russian asset" during the 2020 presidential primaries. Gabbard later filed a lawsuit, claiming that Clinton's accusation was retribution for her support of Bernie Sanders during the 2016 primary.

Gabbard's involvement in the debate preparations holds particular significance due to her past encounters with Kamala Harris. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Gabbard confronted Harris for her role in incarcerating numerous individuals for marijuana-related offenses while she served as California's attorney general. Gabbard also criticized Harris for later boasting about her own use of the drug, branding her as an "empty suit" in a recent interview with Fox News.

The Trump campaign, in an email response to the Times, stated that their candidate did not require traditional debate preparation but appreciated the insights of respected policy advisers and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard. It seems that Trump's team is cautious about their candidate potentially appearing too aggressive, considering his previous debate performance against Joe Biden in 2020.

Dealing with gender dynamics in debates has proven to be a challenge for Trump, especially after accusations of being overbearing towards Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. Furthermore, Trump faced criticism for seating women who had accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct in the front rows of the audience. These factors make his approach to debating a woman like Kamala Harris a sensitive matter.

While Harris had mocked Gabbard's low standing in the polls during their 2020 primary clash, circumstances have changed. Both Harris and Gabbard dropped out of the race, albeit with Harris exiting first, followed by Gabbard a month later.

As the September debate approaches, it remains to be seen how Trump's decision to incorporate Gabbard in his preparations will impact his performance and strategies. Trump's team is likely aiming for a more measured approach, seeking to avoid the pitfalls experienced in previous debates. Only time will tell if this new strategy pays off for the former president.