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Independents RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard will back Trump at the debate, joining Vance and other Republicans
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Independents RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard will back Trump at the debate, joining Vance and other Republicans

PHILADELPHIA – Two well-known former Democrats turned independents who support Donald Trump will be in the spin room Tuesday night at the debate between the former president and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss Trump’s record.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the noted environmentalist and vaccine skeptic who suspended his own presidential campaign last month to endorse Trump, will attend the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the Trump campaign confirmed to Fox News.

That includes former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but then left the party and became an independent two years ago.

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gabbard trump

Former President Trump shakes hands with former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who endorsed Trump, during the 146th Annual General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, Aug. 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP photo/Paul Sancya)

Gabbard, who has become a favorite with many on the political right, endorsed Trump last month.

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In addition to Kennedy and Gabbard in the spin room at the debate — the first and possibly only direct meeting between Harris and Trump before Election Day on Nov. 5 — a group of prominent Republicans are in attendance.

At the top of the list is Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio.

Trump and Vance appear in Asheboro, North Carolina

Former President Trump poses for photos with Senator J.D. Vance before delivering a speech to a crowd in Asheboro, North Carolina on August 21, 2024. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Image)

Also in the spin room for Trump: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law.

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That also applies to former Trump rivals in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination who have become alternates: Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Other top surrogates in the spin room include Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Representatives Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz of Florida and Mike Waltz of Texas, and Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota.

The news about the Trump spin room surrogates was first reported by Politico.

Harris’ campaign announced that two veterans of Trump’s White House — former communications director Anthony Scaramucci and former homeland security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence — will be in the spin room on behalf of the vice president.

Harris’ campaign also confirmed to Fox News that Governors Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Lujan Grisham of New Mexico will be in the spin room on behalf of the vice president.

Get the latest 2024 campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more in our Fox News Digital Election Center.