RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard Added to Trump Transition Team
The Trump campaign announced on Tuesday that former Democrat and Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, another former Democrat, had been named to Trump's transition team....
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Facts
- The Trump campaign announced on Tuesday that former Democrat and Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, another former Democrat, had been named to Trump's transition team.[1]
- Brian Hughes, Trump’s senior advisor, said in a statement that Trump is pleased to have recruited Kennedy and Gabbard, saying they 'look forward to having their powerful voices on the team' as they 'work to restore America’s greatness.'[2]
- Kennedy and Gabbard would recommend policies and individuals in the event of a second Trump administration as honorary co-chairs of the presidential transition team.[3]
- After failing to win the 2020 presidential nomination, former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022. She has since transitioned into the pro-Trump camp and is helping him prepare for the Sept. 10 ABC debate with Kamala Harris.[4][5]
- This comes as a televised primary debate in 2019 was circulated on Tuesday showing Gabbard and Harris exchanging barbs, with the former, a member of the National Guard who served in the Middle East, highlighting her areas of concern about the Democratic Party .[4]
- Other co-chairs on the transition team are Linda McMahon, Howard Lutnick, and Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Additionally, Mr. Trump's two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, are also honorary chairmen on the transition team. [6]
Sources: [1]CBS, [2]CNN, [3]New York Times, [4]Guardian, [5]BBC News and [6]Axios.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News. Trump is fully committed to building his transition team, reflecting his strength and confidence. By selecting Kennedy and Gabbard, he has demonstrated his support across parties and his openness to advice from two former Democratic presidential candidates who are familiar with the opposition. They are individuals whom the Harris/Biden administration has tried hard to sideline and eventually push out. This could be a cause for concern for the Democrats.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by The New Republic. Trump is filling his transition team with conspiracy theorists. Gabbard's previous use of Russian talking points regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and the civil war in Syria put her at odds with the US government. She even met with the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad twice. Kennedy is perhaps best known for being an anti-vaccine and public health skeptic. During his presidential campaign, we learned that he dumped a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park for fun amid other displays of poor judgment. This just shows the desperation of the Trump camp.
