Tulsi Gabbard, a onetime Democratic presidential candidate turned independent, announced at a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina on Tuesday that she’s officially joining the Republican Party.
“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. 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,” Gabbard said.
“You know, I was a Democrat for over 20 years. Today’s Democrat Party is completely unrecognizable,” she continued. “When you look at the party of Kamala Harris, for example, she is anti-freedom. She is pro-censorship, she is pro-open borders, and she is pro-war without even pretending to care about peace.”
Gabbard, 43, becoming a Republican should come as no shock to anyone who has followed her career, particularly in recent years, as the former lawmaker from Hawaii has long made a name for herself by openly criticizing Democrats and has become a staunch supporter of former President Trump.
Her announcement of her party switch comes after prominent Republicans, such as former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter former House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, have endorsed Harris in the 2024 election.
Gabbard cited the Cheneys’ support of Harris as evidence that the Democratic Party is one of “warmongers.”