Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a National Guard veteran who ran for president as a Democrat four years ago, announced her endorsement of former President Donald Trump’s bid for the White House at the National Guard Association’s annual meeting in Michigan. Gabbard cited the current administration’s handling of multiple wars and the risk of nuclear conflict as reasons for her support of Trump.
Trump, in turn, praised Gabbard’s military service and her anti-interventionist stance, highlighting her rank as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and her deployments overseas. He also blamed Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for the “catastrophic” withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to the loss of 13 U.S. service members and over 150 Afghans.
A report from the U.S. State Department in 2023 found faults with both the Trump and Biden administrations in relation to the withdrawal. Gabbard’s endorsement of Trump has raised questions about her shift away from her previous Democratic policies and whether she is positioning herself to serve in a Trump administration.
Gabbard’s foreign policy views, influenced by her combat experiences, have led her to oppose U.S. involvement in conflicts like those in Syria and Afghanistan, as well as military aid to Ukraine. She is reportedly assisting Trump in preparing for an upcoming debate against Harris, with whom she clashed during the 2020 Democratic primary.
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