TLDR:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard added to Trump’s transition team
- Kennedy suspended his independent presidential campaign and endorsed Trump
- Both Kennedy and Gabbard are former Democrats who have criticized their former party
- Kennedy remains on the ballot in some states despite suspending his campaign
- Trump’s team views the appointments as expanding his coalition across partisan lines
Donald Trump has added two former Democrats, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, to his presidential transition team.
The move comes after both Kennedy and Gabbard recently endorsed Trump’s bid for the presidency.
Kennedy, who suspended his independent presidential campaign last week, will co-chair the Republican Party’s transition team alongside Gabbard. The transition team is responsible for helping to select policies and personnel for a potential Trump administration.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Kennedy confirmed his new role, stating, “I’ve been asked to go on the transition team, you know, and to help pick the people who will be running the government.” Trump senior advisor Brian Hughes later confirmed the appointments in a statement.
Kennedy’s suspension of his campaign and subsequent endorsement of Trump came as a surprise to many, given their previous political rivalry. Just months ago, Trump had referred to Kennedy as a “radical-left lunatic.” Despite suspending his campaign, Kennedy has applied to appear on the ballot in Kentucky and remains on the ballot in Colorado.
RFK & Bitcoin
Kennedy has been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. During his campaign, he attended Bitcoin mining events and spoke at major industry conferences.
In June, Kennedy delivered a keynote address at Bitcoin 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, where he pledged to sign an executive order directing the U.S. Treasury to amass a reserve of $4 million in Bitcoin if elected.
He has described Bitcoin as “an exit from the inflation highway” and a means to “take control away from the government,” highlighting its potential role in economic policy. This stance on cryptocurrency could potentially influence discussions within Trump’s transition team.
Gabbard, a former member of Congress for Hawaii, unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. She left the Democratic Party shortly after, criticizing what she described as the party’s “open border” policies and anti-police rhetoric. Since then, Gabbard has become a vocal critic of President Biden and a frequent guest on Fox News.
Both Kennedy and Gabbard have faced criticism from their former party. Kennedy has been known for promoting debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic. Gabbard was condemned by local Democrats for participating in events that raised funds for Republican causes.
Trump’s campaign views these appointments as a way to expand his coalition across partisan lines. Hughes stated,
“We are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team. We look forward to having their powerful voices on the team as we work to restore America’s greatness.”
The addition of Kennedy and Gabbard to Trump’s team has not been without controversy. Marc Short, a former chief of staff to Mike Pence, expressed concern that the appointments represent a setback for conservatives. “From the convention platform to the transition team, free-market, limited-government and social conservatives have been kicked to the curb,” Short told the New York Times.
Kennedy’s presence on the transition team has also raised questions about his potential role in a future Trump administration. There has been speculation about Kennedy possibly serving in a healthcare or food and drug policy capacity, although Trump has downplayed suggestions of appointing him as secretary of health and human services.
