Exit Stage Right: Tulsi Gabbard Leaves Democratic Party

Tulsi Gabbard is leaving the Democratic Party once and for all. Per ABC News, the former House rep from Hawaii and presidential candidate made her announcement via Twitter. “I can no longer remain in today's Democratic Party that's under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers who are driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoking anti-white racism," she said. Gabbard also accused Democrats of being "hostile to people of faith," adding that they "weaponize the national security state to go after their political opponents" and "are dragging us ever closer to nuclear war.” Gabbard also took the opportunity to announce the launch of her new YouTube podcast and a 28-minute inaugural episode entitled “Why I’m Leaving the Democratic Party.”

Gabbard did not announce whether she will join the GOP, but as ABC reporters note, she “touted a number of traditionally conservative talking points, repeating right-wing rhetoric like ‘wokeness’ and ‘elites’” in both her announcement and podcast. Such terms are often circulated among GOP leaders and hosts at Fox News, where Gabbard is a regular contributor. Per the Week, Gabbard guest-hosted an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight following the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search, which she said “has set our country on a dangerous course, and there’s no turning back.” Gabbard also has a history as an "anti-LGBTQ activist" and is outspoken supporter of what its detractors call Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, according to Rolling Stone.

Gabbard's apparent pro-Russia leanings have further isolated her from the Democratic Party. Per NBC News, Hillary Clinton said in 2020 (without mentioning Gabbard by name) that one Democratic presidential candidate was “a favorite of the Russians.” Earlier this year, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard's tweet about supposed American-funded biolabs in Ukraine prompted Mitt Romney to accuse her of "parroting false Russian propaganda" that "may well cost lives," according to Newsweek, which reported in July that Gabbard was included on a Ukrainian government list of Americans who promote Russian propaganda. (More Tulsi Gabbard stories.)