On Tuesday, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard made a significant announcement in front of Donald Trump and his supporters, revealing that she was officially joining the Republican Party, which she described as “the party of the people.” With this declaration, she cut ties with the Democratic Party.
This announcement took place at a rally in North Carolina, where Gabbard was supporting Trump in his efforts to gather momentum in the crucial swing state. The election is now just 13 days away.
Gabbard had aligned herself with Trump’s campaign earlier in August, alongside another former Democrat, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also expressed his support for Trump, particularly praising his defense of free speech and personal liberties.
In her remarks, Gabbard criticized the Democratic Party, focusing specifically on Vice President Kamala Harris. She took issue with Harris’s policies on border control and her approach to war.
“The Democratic Party today is completely unrecognizable. This election presents a very clear choice,” Gabbard stated during the rally in Greensboro. “Take Kamala Harris, for example. She is anti-freedom, pro-censorship, supports open borders, and pushes for war without showing any real commitment to peace.”
Now as a Republican, Gabbard expressed her admiration for Trump and the Republican Party. She emphasized her comments from an earlier event where she endorsed Trump during the National Guard Association conference.
“It’s because of my deep love for this country and my respect for President Trump’s leadership in reshaping the Republican Party—bringing it back to the people and to the cause of peace—that I proudly stand here today with President Trump and announce that I’m officially joining the Republican Party,” Gabbard declared, standing just a few feet away from Trump.
Gabbard represented Hawaii’s 2nd District in Congress as a Democrat from 2013 to 2022. After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, she became an independent, and now, this marks her full transition to the Republican Party.
In response, Trump shared his surprise at Gabbard’s shift but welcomed her with open arms. He also took a moment to acknowledge Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the rally.
“I want to thank him,” Trump said, “He joined us around the same time as Tulsi. He’s done remarkable work on health issues, especially for women. We might have some differences on the environment—we need to run the country well—but that’s okay. He’s an outstanding guy, and I know it wasn’t an easy decision for him.”
