Trump Discusses Former Congresswoman’s Role
Big news in the political arena—former President Donald Trump is gearing up for what could be a historic return to the White House, and he’s bringing some unexpected allies on board. In a surprising move, Trump has added former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to his transition team. This team is the group responsible for helping Trump fill out his administration if he wins re-election in November.
Now, let’s break this down. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Gabbard and Kennedy will serve as "honorary co-chairs" of Trump’s transition team. They’re joining a roster that already includes Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as Senator JD Vance from Ohio. This team will play a crucial role in selecting the people who will run the government if Trump returns to the presidency.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who just last Friday suspended his own campaign in key swing states to support Trump, confirmed his new role during an interview that aired on Monday. He said, “I’ve been asked to go on the transition team, you know, and to help pick the people who will be running the government.” This is a significant shift for Kennedy, who has been running as an independent candidate but is now aligning himself with Trump.
The Trump campaign is thrilled about these additions. Senior adviser Brian Hughes told the New York Times that the campaign is “proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team.” Hughes emphasized that they are looking forward to the powerful voices that Gabbard and Kennedy will bring to the table as they work to “restore America’s greatness.”
Gabbard, who had already endorsed Trump in his race against President Joe Biden, reaffirmed her support on Monday. She stood with Trump to honor the 13 service members who lost their lives during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden-Harris administration.
Gabbard passionately declared, “I am proud to stand here before you today, whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or an independent, if you love our country as I do, if you cherish peace and freedom as we do, I invite you to join me in doing all we can to save our country and elect President Donald J. Trump and send him back to the White House.”
Gabbard’s support for Trump is especially notable given her history with the Democratic Party. She has long criticized the Democratic National Committee for what she sees as favoritism toward certain candidates and even left her position within the DNC to endorse Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary.
As for Kennedy, his decision to step back from his own campaign and support Trump in key swing states is a significant move.
He believes that the Democratic Party has not only turned its back on him but also on the voters, especially after they replaced Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris on the 2024 ticket without a public vote. Kennedy is now urging his supporters to vote for Trump, further shaking up the political landscape.