lpetrich
Contributor
Trump adds ex-Democrats Gabbard and RFK Jr to his transition team
Some 200 Republicans think otherwise:
There is a certain problem with both RFK Jr. and TG.Ms Gabbard is a former congresswoman and military veteran who ran to be the Democratic candidate for the presidency in 2020, before distancing herself from the party.
Mr Kennedy initially launched a bid to win the Democratic nomination this time around, but later ran as an independent before dropping out and endorsing Trump.
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Ms Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress from 2013 to 2021, quit the Democratic Party in 2022, complaining of its "wokeness".
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She was the first Hindu member of the US Congress, going on to serve as vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee - before resigning to endorse the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders.
When Ms Gabbard ran for president in 2020, she championed liberal issues like government-run healthcare, free college tuition and gun control.
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She has since staked out conservative views on issues including abortion and transgender rights, and has become a regular and outspoken guest on Fox News. She has also been accused of spreading "promoting Russian propaganda" by officials in Ukraine.
By early 2024, she was singing the praises of Mr Biden's rival, Trump, who will this time compete for the White House against Ms Harris.
The two former Democrats are also known for being staunch environmentalists.
Trump has promised to ramp up US fossil fuel production and regularly uses the slogan "Drill, baby, drill!" at his rallies.
Some 200 Republicans think otherwise:
In an open letter, former staffers for George HW Bush and George W Bush, and Senators John McCain and Mitt Romney said another Trump administration would endanger American democracy.
The Republicans wrote: "Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov Walz. That’s to be expected.
"The alternative, however, is simply untenable."