Well, folks, it’s official—Tulsi Gabbard has gone from the Democratic debate stage to a full-blown member of the Republican Party, all while standing next to Donald Trump himself. At a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Gabbard announced her decision to join the GOP, much to the surprise (or maybe not-so-surprise) of the crowd and the former president. You’ve got to admit, it’s quite the political journey for someone who, not too long ago, was part of the Democratic National Committee.
Now, Tulsi didn’t just quietly sneak into the Republican fold. No, she made her debut in true Tulsi style, taking center stage at a Trump rally and declaring, “I am joining the party of the people.” According to her, this is all about embracing the Republican Party’s roots—the same party that ended slavery, as she reminded everyone. It’s quite the rebranding effort for a former Democratic darling, but hey, anything’s possible in today’s political landscape.
What’s most striking is her admiration for Trump’s “leadership” in transforming the Republican Party. That’s right—Trump, the man the left still loves to call chaotic, is now, according to Gabbard, the symbol of “peace” and “common sense.” It’s quite the 180 for someone who once ran as a Democrat. But to be fair, Gabbard has been drifting toward conservative circles for a while now, especially after ripping into Kamala Harris during the 2020 Democratic primaries. Back then, she was the first to take a hammer to Harris’s career as California’s attorney general, exposing her harsh record on marijuana prosecutions and cash bail reform.
For independent-thinkers like myself, there is no home in the Democrat Party. However, there is a home for us in the Republican Party.
The Republican Party of warmongering elite Dick Cheney is in the past. Trump’s GOP is a big open tent party of the people, equality,… pic.twitter.com/lz19KyYERf
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) October 23, 2024
Trump, ever the showman, was thrilled with her announcement. “Wow, that was a surprise,” he said, clearly delighted to add yet another high-profile defector from the Democratic Party to his ranks. The real kicker here? Gabbard’s alignment with the likes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another former Democrat, now cozied up with the Trump campaign. It’s like a reunion of disillusioned ex-Democrats who have realized that the current iteration of the Democratic Party doesn’t quite align with their views.
Welcome to the Republican Party @tulsigabbard! Saddle up — let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/w6SL5hC2HB
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) October 23, 2024
Let’s not forget that Gabbard once represented Hawaii’s 2nd District as a Democrat and even served as vice chair of the DNC. But ever since she left the party in 2022, she’s been leaning more and more into the conservative space, speaking at CPAC and launching her own podcast where she discusses everything from foreign policy to—you guessed it—her disillusionment with the Democrats.
BREAKING: Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard officially joins Republican Party at NC Trump rally:
“I’m proud to stand here with you and announce that I am joining the Republican Party.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 23, 2024
So, here we are: Tulsi Gabbard, the once-rising star of the left, now a full-fledged Republican, standing side by side with Donald Trump. If this isn’t proof that the political realignment in this country is alive and well, I don’t know what is. The Democrats can keep their progressive extremes—Gabbard has officially joined the “party of the people,” and it’s looking like she’s found a new political home.
