Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina on Tuesday evening. Joining him on stage was former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI), who ran for president as a Democrat in 2020 (and helped knock then-Senator Kamala Harris (CA) out of the primary and later became an independent).
Gabbard has campaigned for Trump this election cycle, including in appearances with Trump and alongside former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped his own campaign in August and has been campaigning for the Trump/Vance ticket ever since.
Gabbard, appropriately dressed in red, used Tuesday night’s rally to make a stunning announcement: She is joining the Republican Party.
NEW: Former Democratic Congressmen @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 because of my love for our country – and especially because of the leadership that President Trump has taken to transform the Republican Party and make it once again the party of the people and the party of peace – I am proud.” I stand here today to you, President Trump, and announce that I am joining the Republican Party, the party of equality, the party founded to fight and end slavery in this country “It is the party of common sense and the party , led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace.”
Presumably Trump knew in advance that Gabbard was planning the announcement, but he seemed a little surprised by it. The crowd went wild when she made it official.
Welcome to the party, Tulsi.
