Tulsi Gabbard announces she is joining the Republican Party and stuns Trump

Former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced she is joining the Republican party Tuesday night.

Taking the stage before thousands in Greensboro, North Carolina, Gabbard cemented her conversion from Democrat to Republican.

‘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 that I’m proud to stand here with you today and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party,’ she proudly declared.

She continued: ‘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.’

Gabbard said that the GOP and Trump were ‘the party of common sense and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace.’

The two then embraced on stage in front of a screaming audience. 

In 2022, she announced she was leaving the Democratic party to become an Independent.

She then announced in August that she was endorsing former President Donald Trump and promised to do everything she could to secure his election.

Regaining control of the mic after Gabbard’s announcement, Trump said he was stunned by the announcement, which he had not known was coming.

‘Thank you very much, Tulsi, that’s great wow,’ Trump said seemingly stunned.

‘That was a surprise,’ he continued, calling the gesture a ‘great honor’ and a ‘beautiful speech. 

Trump introduced Gabbard at the end of his almost two-hour remarks where he discussed Elon Musk’s rockets and suggested Kamala Harris was on drugs during her 60 Minutes interview, that he claims was edited.

Trump seemed quite surprised by the former Democrat’s announcement

Trump seemed quite surprised by the former Democrat’s announcement

The two exchanged words and embraced while the crowds loud cheers filled the room 

Gabbard said the Democratic Party is now ‘completely unrecognizable’. She was a member for more than 20 years

The former president called her a ‘woman that everybody loves’ who has ‘so much common sense’.

‘Boy you are popular’ he told her in front of the crowd as she brought her on stage.

Gabbard said the Democratic Party is now ‘completely unrecognizable’. She was a member for more than 20 years.

She ran for president as a Democrat in 2020 and ended up endorsing Joe Biden when she dropped out. 

The former congresswoman called Kamala Harris ‘anti-freedom’ and ‘pro-censorship’ and slammed her recent foreign policy moves.

‘She is anti-freedom, she is pro-censorship, she is pro-open borders, and she is pro-war,’ Gabbard said of Harris. 

Trump introduced Gabbard at the end of his almost two-hour remarks where he discussed Elon Musk’s rockets and suggested Kamala Harris was on drugs during her 60 Minutes interview, that he claims was edited

Trump looks on in shock as Gabbard announces her move to the GOP at his North Carolina rally

‘Without even pretending to care about peace, as President Trump talked about, she has shamelessly embraced the endorsement and support of warmongers like Dick Cheney, and Liz Cheney,’ she added.

Gabbard, a National Guard veteran, ran for president in 2019. She clashed memorably with Harris as they fought for the Democratic nomination, eventually won by Joe Biden.

She campaigned on a platform that decried U.S. involvement in the Middle East, saying it made the nation less safe, and directed blame at both Republicans and Democrats. 

It was typical of a politician who became known for taking idiosyncratic positions during her time as representative for Hawaii.

In 2019, she was the only lawmaker to vote ‘present’ during the highly partisan first impeachment of Trump. 

She attracted widespread criticism for meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017 and touring the city of Aleppo, which had been reduced to rubble by his forces during a brutal civil war.