Trump appoints former Democrats RFK Jr and Gabbard to transition team
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The role of RFK Jr and Tulsi Gabbard in the former president's transition team has not been disclosed, but The New York Times reported they will serve as honorary co-chairs should Donald Trump be re-elected in November.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Oakland, California on March 26, 2024 (AFP)
Republican candidate President Donald Trump has appointed two former Democrats Robert F Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard as part of his transition team, serving as honorary co-chairs of his administration if he is re-elected as president in November, The New York Times reported.
The US-based newspaper highlighted that the two politicians, who have endorsed the former US president's candidacy, would play a pivotal role in shaping the Trump administration's policies and personnel.
Kennedy's appointment came after he dropped out of the presidential race on Friday, withdrawing his bid as an independent candidate and endorsing Trump who previously referred to him as a "radical-left lunatic."
The 70-year-old politician confirmed his appointment during an interview with Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host and known Trump supporter which was posted on X.
When Bobby Kennedy endorsed Donald Trump last week, he burned his boats. There’s no turning back for him, or for American politics. Here’s his first interview since that happened.
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 26, 2024
(0:42) RFK Jr. Endorsing Donald Trump
(11:26) Censorship and Pavel Durov’s Arrest
(34:56) America’s… pic.twitter.com/AOQULEvZeX
Who is Tulsi Gabbard? - Her 2019 brawl with VP Kamala Harris
Gabbard served as the US Congress Democratic representative for Hawaii from 2013 to 2021, leaving the liberal party shortly after her unsuccessful presidential run in 2020.
Since then, the politician has rebranded herself as a pro-Trump supporter, assisting the former president in preparing for his upcoming debate with his Democratic counterpart Kamala Harris on September 10.
In 2019, Harris and Gabbard brawled in a televised Democratic debate where the latter criticized the party, stating it was “not the party that is of, by and for the people and continues to be influenced by the foreign policy establishment in Washington represented by [Hillary] Clinton ... and other greedy corporate interests," while attacking Harris' record as a prosecutor.
The current Democratic presidential candidate responded to Gabbard, describing her as “someone who during the Obama administration spent four years full-time on Fox News criticizing President Obama." Additionally, she accused the former national guard of "buddying up" with prominent Trump supporter and advisor Steve Bannon for setting up a meeting with the former president after his victory in the 2016 elections.
Gabbard, Kennedy's roles yet to be determined
The role of the newly-appointed politicians is yet to be determined. However, Kennedy and Gabbard will be on the transition team alongside two of Trump's sons, Donald Jr and Eric, as well as JD Vance, the Republican nominee's vice-presidential running mate.
However, Kennedy has speculated that he would assume a potential role in healthcare, food, and drug policy under the second Trump administration. Although Trump has supported Kennedy's concern about children's vaccinations, he has discredited suggestions of appointing the former independent candidate as his secretary of health and human services. Essentially, securing the position would require Kennedy to obtain Senate confirmation.
Marc Short, former chief of staff to Mike Pence, criticized Trump's appointment of Kennedy and Gabbard, telling The New York Times it was a setback to conservatives.
“From the convention platform to the transition team, free-market, limited-government, and social conservatives have been kicked to the curb,” he said, adding that “Doubling down on big-government populists will not energize turnout among traditional conservatives.”
