Ex-Democrat Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump

FORMER Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard has officially endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 US presidential election.

Gabbard, a US National Guard veteran with two tours of duty in the Middle East, made the announcement during an appearance with Trump in Detroit on Monday.

She expressed her support for Trump, highlighting his understanding of the responsibilities of the presidency, particularly in relation to national security.

The endorsement took place on the third anniversary of the August 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 US service members and over 100 Afghans.

Gabbard and Trump attended the National Guard Association of the United States event and earlier visited Arlington National Cemetery, where they honoured three of the slain service members.

Gabbard praised Trump for his approach to foreign policy, noting his willingness to engage with adversaries and allies alike in the pursuit of peace. She contrasted this with her criticism of the current Democratic administration, arguing that the US is now facing conflicts on multiple fronts and is closer to nuclear war than ever before.

Later on Monday, Trump’s campaign announced that Gabbard would moderate a town hall with Trump in La Crosse, Wisconsin, scheduled for Thursday.

Gabbard’s endorsement of Trump marks a significant departure from her previous role as a Democratic representative from Hawaii. Known for her independent stances, Gabbard has frequently taken positions that diverge from her party's establishment. She supported Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Democratic primary and ran for president in 2020, criticising US involvement in Middle Eastern wars.

In 2022, Gabbard left the Democratic Party, condemning it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers” and “woke” ideologues. Since then, she has aligned herself with several high-profile Republicans, contributed to Fox News, and launched a podcast.

Recently, another former Democratic presidential contender, Robert F Kennedy Jr, also endorsed Trump after suspending his independent campaign last week.

(With inputs from agencies)