Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Congresswoman and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, officially joined the Republican Party during 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, a hotly contested state. Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, had previously supported Trump’s presidential bid in August 2024.

The Trump rally, held in the swing state, marked her complete separation from the Democratic Party she sought to represent just four years earlier.

Gabbard, 43, who recently joined Trump’s campaign as honorary co-chair of his transition team alongside Robert F Kennedy, another former Democrat, cited her admiration for Trump’s leadership in transforming the Republican Party.

“I am proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I am joining the Republican Party. I join the party of the people,” Gabbard said at the meeting. “The party of equality. The party founded to fight and end slavery in this country. It is the party of common sense and the party led by a president who has the courage and strength to stand for peace to fight.”

Donald Trump, immediately after Gabbard joined the team, expressed his surprise and then praised her for the move.

“Thank you very much, Tulsi. That’s great. Wow, that was a surprise,” Trump said. ‘It really was, she’s been independent for a long time. That’s great. A great honor. Thank you very much, Tulsi.’

Gabbard served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016 before stepping down to support Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 race for the White House.

As a Democrat, Gabbard also represented Hawaii’s Second District in Congress from 2023 to 2021. She also served in the U.S. Army Reserves at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Gabbard, who ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, gained attention during a debate for her sharp criticism of 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, particularly because of Harris’ record in California, Fox News reported.

After leaving the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard became an independent, hosting her own podcast and speaking at conservative events.