Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential bid, furthering her shift away from the celebration she sought to characterize 4 years in the past and linking herself to the GOP nominee’s critiques of Vice President Kamala Harris and the chaotic Afghanistan Struggle withdrawal.
Showing Monday with Trump in Detroit, Gabbard, a Nationwide Guard veteran who served two excursions of obligation within the Center East, stated that the GOP nominee “understands the grave accountability {that a} president and commander in chief bears for each single certainly one of our lives.”
The pair appeared on the Nationwide Guard Affiliation of america on the third anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and greater than 100 Afghans. Gabbard accompanied Trump earlier Monday to Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, when the previous president laid wreaths in honor of three of the slain service members — Sgt. Nicole Gee, Employees Sgt. Darin Hoover and Employees Sgt. Ryan Knauss.
On Monday, Gabbard praised Trump for “having the braveness to satisfy with adversaries, dictators, allies and companions alike within the pursuit of peace, seeing struggle as a final resort.” She condemned the Democratic White Home for the U.S. now “dealing with a number of wars on a number of fronts in areas world wide and nearer to the brink of nuclear struggle than we ever have been earlier than.”
Gabbard has lengthy signaled some degree of help for Trump, even whereas she sat within the U.S. Home as a Democrat. In 2019, she was the one lawmaker to vote “current” when the Home of Representatives impeached Trump for his dealings with Ukraine.
Gabbard’s endorsement of the rival nominee to her former celebration represents a polar swing from her place as a Democrat representing Hawaii within the U.S. Home, though Gabbard was recognized throughout her 4 phrases for taking positions at odds together with her personal celebration’s institution. She was an early and vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Democratic presidential main run, which made her well-liked with progressives.
Not searching for reelection in 2020, Gabbard ran for president herself as an alternative, saying U.S. wars within the Center East destabilized the area, made the U.S. much less secure and value 1000’s of American lives, and that Democrats and Republicans shared the blame. She tore into Harris’ document throughout a main debate and finally outlasted her in that race, which President Joe Biden finally received.
Gabbard endorsed Biden however grew to become an impartial two years later, saying the Democratic Occasion was dominated by an “elitist cabal of warmongers” and “woke” ideologues. Within the years since she has campaigned for a number of high-profile Republicans, grow to be a contributor to Fox Information and began a podcast.
One other former Democratic presidential contender additionally only in the near past endorsed Trump. Final week, impartial candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who final 12 months ran as a Democrat difficult President Joe Biden for the nomination — suspended his marketing campaign and stated he was backing Trump within the common election.
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Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and may be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP. McAvoy reported from Honolulu, Hawaii.