Democrat Tulsi Gabbard drops out, endorses Trump over Kamala Harris amid rising election tensions

Tulsi Gabbard, who previously sought the 2020 Democratic nomination, has endorsed Donald Trump against her former rival Kamala Harris. 

Gabbard appeared with Trump in Detroit on Monday, praising him for understanding the significant responsibility of the presidency and military leadership. They attended an event marking the third anniversary of the suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans. Gabbard joined Trump at Arlington National Cemetery, where he honored three of the fallen service members—Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.

During the event, Gabbard commended Trump for his willingness to engage with adversaries and allies in pursuit of peace, criticizing the current Democratic administration for leading the U.S. into multiple conflicts and bringing the nation closer to nuclear war. Later that day, Trump's campaign announced that Gabbard would moderate a town hall with Trump scheduled for Thursday in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Gabbard, who served as a Democrat in the U.S. House, has shown support for Trump before, notably casting a "present" vote during his impeachment over Ukraine dealings. Known for her independent stance, she supported Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign and criticized Harris during the 2020 primary debates. After running for president herself and becoming an independent, Gabbard has endorsed various high-profile Republicans, contributed to Fox News, and launched a podcast.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another former Democratic presidential candidate, recently endorsed Trump after suspending his own campaign, highlighting a trend of former Democratic contenders aligning with the former president.