Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Tuesday evening. Among those joining him on the stage was former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI), who ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat (and helped knock then Senator Kamala Harris (CA) out of the primary, then later became an Independent.
Gabbard has been stumping for Trump this election cycle, including appearances with Trump and alongside former Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his own campaign in August and has been campaigning for the Trump/Vance ticket ever since.
Gabbard, fittingly decked out in red, took the occasion of Tuesday night’s rally to make a stunning announcement: She is joining the Republican Party.
NEW: Former Democrat Congresswoman @TulsiGabbard joins Trump on stage in Greensboro, NC and announces she is joining the Republican Party. pic.twitter.com/8ukigYPHpo
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 23, 2024
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Here was the moment she made the announcement:
Welcome to the party, @TulsiGabbard. pic.twitter.com/nDHxnST9CC
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 23, 2024
“And it is because of my love for our country — and specifically, because of the leadership that President Trump has brought to transform the Republican Party and bring it back to the party of the people and the party of peace — that I’m proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I’m 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.”
Presumably, Trump knew ahead of time that Gabbard planned to make the announcement, but he appeared somewhat surprised by it. The crowd went wild when she made it official.
Welcome to the party, Tulsi.
