Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has endorsed presidential bid, furthering her shift away from the party she sought to represent four years ago and linking herself to the of Vice President and the chaotic Afghanistan War withdrawal.
Appearing Monday with Trump in Detroit, Gabbard, a National Guard veteran who served two tours of duty in the Middle East, said that the GOP nominee 鈥渦nderstands the grave responsibility that a president and commander in chief bears for every single one of our lives.鈥�
The pair appeared at the National Guard Association of the United States on the third anniversary of the at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans. Gabbard accompanied Trump earlier Monday to Arlington National Cemetery, when the former president laid wreaths in honor of three of the slain service members 鈥� Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.
On Monday, Gabbard praised Trump for 鈥渉aving the courage to meet with adversaries, dictators, allies and partners alike in the pursuit of peace, seeing war as a last resort." She condemned the Democratic White House for the U.S. now "facing multiple wars on multiple fronts in regions around the world and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before.鈥�
Gabbard has long signaled some level of support for Trump, even while she sat in the U.S. House as a Democrat. In 2019, she was the only lawmaker to when the House of Representatives impeached Trump for his dealings with Ukraine.
Gabbard's endorsement of the rival nominee to her former party represents a polar swing from her position as a Democrat representing Hawaii in the U.S. House, although Gabbard was known during her four terms for taking positions at odds with her own party's establishment. She was an early and vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 Democratic presidential primary run, which made her popular with progressives.
Not seeking reelection in 2020, Gabbard ran for president herself instead, saying U.S. wars in the Middle East destabilized the region, made the U.S. less safe and cost thousands of American lives, and that Democrats and Republicans shared the blame. She during a primary debate and ultimately outlasted her in that race, which President Joe Biden ultimately won.
but two years later, saying the Democratic Party was dominated by an 鈥渆litist cabal of warmongers鈥� and 鈥渨oke鈥� ideologues. In the years since she has , become a contributor to Fox News and started a podcast.
Another former Democratic presidential contender also just recently endorsed Trump. Last week, independent candidate 鈥� who last year ran as a Democrat challenging President Joe Biden for the nomination 鈥� and said he was backing Trump in the general election.
___
Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and can be reached at McAvoy reported from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Meg Kinnard And Audrey Mcavoy, The Associated Press
