Tulsi Gabbard Turning Republican Is ‘Surprise’ to Donald Trump

Former U.S. Consultant Tulsi Gabbard, a longtime Democrat from Hawaii earlier than turning unbiased in 2022, mentioned that she has determined to hitch the Republican Celebration.

Gabbard made the announcement whereas addressing the gang at former President Donald Trump’s rally in North Carolina for a couple of minutes Tuesday night, throughout which she praised the GOP presidential nominee for bringing the Republican Celebration “again to the social gathering of the individuals and the social gathering of peace.”

“To these of you right here or these watching at dwelling who’re independent-minded individuals like myself, who love our nation and are dedicated to the Structure and to freedom, the Democratic Celebration has no dwelling for individuals like us,” Gabbard mentioned. “However we do have a house within the Republican Celebration the place we’re welcomed with open arms by President Trump.”

“I am proud to face right here with you at present, President Trump, and announce that I am becoming a member of the Republican Celebration,” she added.

Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, endorsed Trump’s presidential bid in August, a bit over a month after President Joe Biden stepped down from the race and Vice President Kamala Harris launched her marketing campaign.

Trump mentioned on Tuesday that he “did not know” Gabbard had determined to hitch the GOP, including, “That was a shock.”

“That was actually … she’s been unbiased for a very long time,” Trump informed his rallygoers. “It is a fantastic factor, a fantastic honor.”

Trump has additionally been endorsed by former unbiased presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his marketing campaign in August and threw his help behind the previous president. Kennedy, son of ex-U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, each Democrats who have been assassinated within the Sixties, has been rebuked by his household for backing Trump.

Newsweek reached out to Trump’s marketing campaign for additional remark Tuesday night time.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, in the meantime, has been supported by dozens of Republican politicians up and down the poll, together with former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, ex-U.S. Consultant Liz Cheney.

Harris’ marketing campaign is focusing on Republican voters in three key battleground states this week in hopes of successful over GOP backers who’re in opposition to Trump. Liz Cheney, who represented Wyoming’s district at giant, is becoming a member of the vice chairman on the marketing campaign stops in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

In an announcement shared to Newsweek earlier this week, the Harris marketing campaign mentioned that the vice chairman and Cheney “plan to warn concerning the danger of a second Trump time period for America and lay out the Vice President’s agenda for a New Means Ahead for the American those that focuses on their wants, not the division and chaos of Donald Trump.”

Replace 10/22/24, 10:12 p.m. ET: This text has been up to date with further info and background.