In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has added Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to his presidential transition team. Both Kennedy and Gabbard recently endorsed Trump in his race against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.
The Trump campaign senior advisor, Brian Hughes, expressed pride in the expansion of Trump's coalition of supporters and endorsers across partisan lines. Both Kennedy and Gabbard are expected to bring their powerful voices to the transition team as they work towards restoring America's greatness if Trump wins the upcoming presidential election.
Kennedy had recently suspended his independent presidential campaign, while Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, has reportedly been assisting Trump in preparing for a debate against Harris. The roles that Kennedy and Gabbard will play in the transition team have not yet been specified.
Trump's transition team also includes his adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. Vance expressed his desire to see Kennedy advising Trump on important government selections, highlighting the critical role of the transition team in shaping the administration.
Other members of the transition team include Linda McMahon, the former head of the Small Business Administration under Trump, and Howard Lutnick, the chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. The addition of Kennedy and Gabbard to Trump's team comes after a period of mutual criticism between the two and marks a significant development in the upcoming presidential transition process.