Ex-Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for Trump-backed Kari Lake in Arizona
NBCDec 24, 2022
Tulsi Gabbard Announces Switch to GOP
Above: Tulsi Gabbard and former Pres. Donald Trump at a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina on Oct. 22, 2024. Image copyright: Cornell Watson/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
Tulsi Gabbard, who served in Congress as a Democrat before becoming an independent, Tuesday announced on stage during a North Carolina rally with former Pres. Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, that she's formally joining the Republican Party.
In her speech, Gabbard referred to the GOP as the "party of the people," of "equality," and the one that "end[ed] slavery" in the US. She further claimed that Trump wanted "peace," while asserting that his Democratic opponent, Vice Pres. Kamala Harris, is "pro-war."
The Spin
Republican narrative
Gabbard joining the GOP makes sense given what her old party has become. Gabbard supports real Americans, while Harris supports a small group of elites. Most importantly, Gabbard supports peace while Harris — as Cheney's endorsement proves — wants to continue endless wars. Republicans will take Gabbard's America First mentality over Cheney any day.
Democratic narrative
Gabbard is joining Team Trump for one reason — her disdain for America's role in defending democracy. She's defended the actions of dictators for over a decade now — including Russia's Vladimir Putin — and hopes to use a potential second Trump term to promote her beliefs even further. Gabbard's bad-faith rhetoric is an ominous sign of the state of the modern GOP.