GREENSBORO, NC — Former Democratic Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has been hitting the campaign trail for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has officially crossed the aisle.
“The Democrat Party has no home for people like us, but 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, who switched to independent in 2022, told the crowd at Trump’s Tuesday night rally in Greensboro, NC.
“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, with President Trump, and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party,” the 43-year-old declared.
“You know, I was a Democrat for over 20 years. Today’s Democrat Party is completely unrecognizable, which points to the clear choice that we have in this Election Day,” continued Gabbard, who is a member of 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 without even pretending to care about peace.”
Gabbard, a veteran, blasted “warmongers” — like former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former GOP Wyoming Sen. Liz Cheney — for supporting Harris, 59, and “who care more about power and feeding the military-industrial complex than they care about you, the American people, and peace.
“President Trump has pledged to end wars, not start them. And this is why, in the eyes of the Kamala Harris-Dick Cheney Democrat Party, they will do everything possible to try to destroy him,” she added, accusing them of weaponizing the federal government “to try to silence him.”
“This man has the courage to take them on and root out the deep rot of corruption and the swamp in Washington.”
Trump, 78, later noted that he was not expecting Gabbard’s announcement.
“Wow, that was a surprise,” the former president said, calling it a “great honor” to have influenced Gabbard to join the ranks of the GOP.
Gabbard is eyeing a potential position in Trump’s White House should he win a second term next month, a source familiar with the discussions told The Post in August.
While specifics of what role she is possibly seeking have not been ironed out as any serious conversations will take place after Election Day, the source said, Gabbard has highlighted her experience with “foreign policy.”
There are 16 Electoral College votes up for grabs in North Carolina in November.
Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris in the state by less than a percentage point, according to the latest RealCelarPolitics average of polls.