In a surprising turn of events, former Democratic leader Tulsi Gabbard officially endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Detroit on Monday. Gabbard expressed her confidence in Trump’s ability to steer the country away from the brink of war, a sentiment that has gained traction in recent days with other high-profile endorsements such as RFK Jr.

Gabbard, who served as the Democratic representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021 before leaving the party in 2022, has been a vocal critic of the Democratic Party’s approach to war. She denounced the party as an elitist cabal of warmongers, aligning more closely with Trump’s non-interventionist stance.

Despite running in the 2019 Democratic presidential primary against Kamala Harris, Gabbard has now thrown her support behind Trump, citing his track record in office. Trump, in turn, praised Gabbard as a true American patriot and highlighted her military service as a 17-year veteran of the Hawaii Army National Guard and a four-term Democratic congresswoman.

In her endorsement speech, Gabbard emphasized the importance of peace for prosperity and freedom, accusing the current administration led by Kamala Harris of retaliating against political opponents and undermining civil liberties. She commended Trump for his efforts to prevent wars and de-escalate conflicts, contrasting it with the incumbent administration’s approach.

One standout moment of their joint appearance was paying respect to soldiers martyred in the Abbey Gate Attack in Kabul, underscoring Trump’s commitment to honoring and supporting the military. Gabbard highlighted Trump’s courage as commander-in-chief and his dedication to protecting American interests without resorting to unnecessary conflicts.

Despite being mistaken for an Indian-origin woman due to her first name, Gabbard has no direct connection to India. She identified as a Hindu, a nod to her mother’s conversion to Hinduism and her family’s embrace of the religion.