Ex-Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for Trump-backed Kari Lake in Arizona
NBCMAR 31 2023
Tulsi Gabbard Announces Switch to GOP
Above: Tulsi Gabbard and former Pres. Donald Trump at a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina on Oct. 22, 2024. Image copyright: Cornell Watson/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Gabbard joining the GOP makes sense given what her old party has become. Gabbard supports real Americans, while Harris supports a small group of elites. Most importantly, Gabbard supports peace while Harris — as Cheney's endorsement proves — wants to continue endless wars. Republicans will take Gabbard's America First mentality over Cheney any day.
Democratic narrative
Gabbard is joining Team Trump for one reason — her disdain for America's role in defending democracy. She's defended the actions of dictators for over a decade now — including Russia's Vladimir Putin — and hopes to use a potential second Trump term to promote her beliefs even further. Gabbard's bad-faith rhetoric is an ominous sign of the state of the modern GOP.