In a significant development within the political landscape, former Democratic and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decided to suspend his campaign and endorse former President Donald Trump for re-election. Following suit, another ex-Democratic presidential candidate, Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard, has also expressed her support for Trump’s campaign.
“I know that President Trump understands the grave responsibility that a president and commander-in-chief bears for every single one of our lives,” stated Gabbard, who previously served as a U.S. Representative from Hawaii.
She highlighted Trump’s first term, noting, “He not only didn’t start any new wars, he took action to de-escalate and prevent wars.” This conviction is a driving force behind her commitment to support Trump’s return to the White House. Gabbard declared, “This is one of the main reasons why I am committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House where he can once again serve us as our commander-in-chief.”
Gabbard made her announcement at Arlington Cemetery during a ceremony where Trump laid a wreath to honor service members who lost their lives during the Biden-Harris administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Having run as a Democrat in the 2020 primaries, Gabbard has since distanced herself from the party due to significant disagreements with its current policies.
Before her departure from the Democratic Party, Gabbard was an active duty Lt. Col. in the National Guard and represented Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. One of her main points of contention with Democratic leadership has been President Joe Biden’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, which she argues has nearly pushed the U.S. to the brink of nuclear war due to NATO’s expansion eastward.
Gabbard’s relationship with the current administration has strained significantly in recent weeks, particularly after she alleged that she had been placed on a domestic terror watch list and was subject to government surveillance under the TSA’s Quiet Skies program.
During her endorsement announcement, Gabbard emphasized her belief that Trump would prioritize peace and work to prevent further conflicts. “I am confident that his first task will be to do the work to walk us back from the brink of war. We cannot be prosperous unless we are at peace,” she remarked. She also criticized the current administration for utilizing its power against political opponents.
Kennedy, too, mentioned the situation in Ukraine as a key reason for endorsing Trump, expressing trust that he could facilitate peace despite their political differences. He congratulated Gabbard on her endorsement and expressed hope to collaborate on issues like ending wars and addressing censorship.
Following these endorsements, Trump released a new campaign advertisement suggesting that Kennedy Democrats feel a stronger connection to the Republican Party than to Vice President Harris’s Democratic Party.