Former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced she was joining the Republican Party during a Trump rally in North Carolina on Tuesday.
Gabbard left the Democrat Party in 2022 to become an independent over the party’s enthusiasm for endless wars and assault on free speech, and endorsed Trump in August after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also a Democrat-turned-independent, threw his support behind the GOP candidate.
“It is because of my love for our country and specifically because of the leadership that President Trump has brought to transform the Republican Party that I’m proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party,” Gabbard told the crowd in Greensboro.
For independent-thinkers like myself, there is no home in the Democrat Party. However, there is a home for us in the Republican Party.
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) October 23, 2024
The Republican Party of warmongering elite Dick Cheney is in the past. Trump’s GOP is a big open tent party of the people, equality,… pic.twitter.com/lz19KyYERf
“I’m joining the party of the people, the party of equality, the party that was founded to fight against and end slavery in this country,” she said in explaining her decision. “It is the party of common sense and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace.”
She went on to encourage undecided and independent voters to also join the Republican Party because the Democratic Party has become antithetical to the Constitution.
“To those of you here or those watching at home who are independent-minded people like myself, who love our country and are committed to the Constitution and to freedom, the Democratic Party has no home for people like us,” Gabbard said. “But we do have a home in the Republican Party where we are welcomed with open arms by President Trump.”
Gabbard and Kennedy, both of whom could have potential roles in a second Trump administration, were tapped to join his presidential transition team should he be reelected next month.
After endorsing Trump, the former Democratic presidential candidate advised Trump ahead of his September 10 debate with Kamala Harris, after herself debating Harris during the Democratic primaries in 2019.
“She put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana,” Gabbard said of Harris then. “She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California, and she fought to keep [a] cash-bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way.”
Trump said he “didn’t know” Gabbard was going to join the party and called it a “great honor.”
“That was a surprise!” Trump told his rallygoers. “That was really…she’s been independent for a long time. It’s a great thing, a great honor.”