In a surprising move that underscores the growing bipartisan reach of his 2024 campaign, former President Donald Trump has added Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to his presidential transition team. The announcement came on Tuesday, with the Trump campaign touting the inclusion of these prominent figures as a testament to the broadening coalition of supporters rallying behind the former president.
“As President Trump’s broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team,” said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, in a statement to The Epoch Times. “We look forward to having their powerful voices on the team as we work to restore America’s greatness.”
Kennedy, who recently suspended his independent presidential bid, confirmed that Trump had approached him with the offer to join the transition team. “I’ve been asked to go on to the transition team, you know, to help pick the people who will be running the government, and I’m looking forward to that,” Kennedy said during an interview with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host. Kennedy’s decision to back Trump marks a significant shift after months of running a campaign that at times seemed at odds with both major parties.
Kennedy’s support for Trump has already stirred controversy, not least among his own family. Over the weekend, several members of the Kennedy family publicly criticized his endorsement of Trump, stating that it contradicts the family’s long-held values. Despite the backlash, Kennedy remains steadfast, emphasizing the importance of healthy debate within his family while acknowledging their differences.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who ran for president in 2020, also made headlines earlier this week when she announced her support for Trump. At an event in Detroit, Gabbard praised Trump’s approach to foreign policy, commending him for “having the courage to meet with adversaries, dictators, allies, and partners alike in the pursuit of peace.”
Gabbard’s endorsement and subsequent inclusion in the transition team highlight a growing trend of disaffected Democrats finding common cause with Trump’s campaign. This realignment is seen by many as indicative of the deepening divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly in the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the race and President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection.
The addition of Kennedy and Gabbard to Trump’s transition team comes as part of a broader strategy to build a diverse and influential coalition ahead of the 2024 election. Earlier this month, Trump named former WWE executive Linda McMahon and billionaire businessman Howard Lutnick as co-chairs of his transition team, signaling his intent to assemble a powerhouse of political and business leaders to guide his potential second term.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and health advocate, initially entered the 2024 race as a Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden. However, after a period of declining voter interest and following Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, Kennedy pivoted to an independent run before ultimately endorsing Trump. His endorsement of Trump at a rally in Arizona last week further solidified his role in the Trump campaign, with the former president pledging to release remaining files related to the assassination of Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy.
With both Kennedy and Gabbard now officially part of Trump’s transition team, the stage is set for a campaign that promises to challenge conventional political alignments and redefine the contours of American politics. As the 2024 election draws nearer, all eyes will be on how this unconventional alliance shapes the race and the future of the nation.