Former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday evening she was joining the Republican Party at a Greensboro, North Carolina, rally in support of former President Donald Trump.
Citing Trump’s efforts to transform the GOP into the party of peace and of the people, Gabbard said she was “proud” to stand with Trump and become a Republican.
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“I’m proud to stand here with you and announce that I am joining the Republican Party,” she said as the crowd roared in approval.
Gabbard spent part of her brief remarks in Greensboro also denouncing Vice President Kamala Harris and former Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, who has stumped in battleground states against Trump.
The Democratic Party is “unrecognizable,” according to Gabbard, who spent two decades as a member of the party and now serves on Trump’s transition team.
“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,” Gabbard said.
“She has shamelessly embraced the endorsement in support of warmongers like Dick Cheney and Liz Cheney and others who care more about power and feeding the military-industrial complex than they care about you, the American people, and peace,” the former Hawaii lawmaker continued. “President Trump has pledged to end wars, not start them.”
Cheney is a noted Trump critic who has repeatedly worked to woo disaffected Republicans to support Harris over the former president. On Monday Cheney joined Harris in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, the blue wall states.
Gabbard claimed Cheney and Harris would “do everything possible to try to destroy” Trump, mentioning his criminal cases with the Justice Department.
The remarks at the rally from Gabbard could help Trump appeal to independent voters, who will help decide the election.
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The Hawaii lawmaker claimed that the Democratic Party no longer made room for independent-minded voters, as she sought to persuade them to vote for Trump.
“We do have a home in the Republican Party where we are welcomed with open arms by President Trump and so many of you who love our country,” Gabbard said.