Described as a “political rising star” by ABC News in 2015, Tulsi Gabbard was a Hawaii Democrat who wasn’t afraid to criticize President Barack Obama.
Gabbard complained at the time, reported by CNN, that the Obama administration “refuses to recognize who our enemy is.”
“But what concerns me is that the administration has not yet accurately identified the enemy and clearly laid out a strategy for defeating this enemy. The reality of war is that you cannot defeat your enemy unless you know and understand him,” Gabbard said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
Gabbard met with Donald Trump shortly after he won the 2016 election, and added in a statement: “I felt it was important to take this opportunity now to meet with the president-elect before the neocon drumbeats of war drag us into an escalating war to overthrow the Syrian government.”
Surveys of Gabbard’s political affiliations show that she changes frequently: She resigned as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee to support Sen. Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton.
She then dramatically defected from the Democratic party in October 2022, saying, “They demonize police and protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans. Today’s Democrats believe in open borders and weaponize the national security state to attack their political opponents. Above all, today’s Democrats are bringing us closer to nuclear war.”
This was two years after she ran for president as a Democrat.
But Gabbard later said the Democratic Party supports government by and for the powerful elites, and called on fellow “independent-minded Democrats” to leave the party as well.
At the same time, Gabbard found it difficult to support the Democrats, but she found even more reasons to support Trump.
In 2019, then-Representative Gabbard voted “yes” to two articles of impeachment that charged then-President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“After reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I have concluded that I cannot in good conscience vote for or against it,” she said at the time.
By that year, Gabbard could say “yes” to the Republican Party without even needing a signed party ballot.
Gabbard closed the door to the Democratic Party last week and endorsed President Trump in his bid for reelection.
He praised Gabbard for “viewing war as a last resort and for having the courage to meet with enemies, dictators, allies and partners alike in pursuit of peace.”
Gabbard has become a multifaceted politician, but switching roles doesn’t seem to be an issue for her: After running for president as a Democrat and then endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump for the presidency, the 43-year-old former Hawaii state legislator, Honolulu city council member and Hawaii Army National Guard veteran has become a multifaceted politician.
For voters, deciding what exactly a vote for Gabbard would mean is increasingly an open question.
Richard Borreka writes about politics on Sundays and can be reached at 808onpolitics@gmail.com
